Though diversity courses are required at Penn State, diversity action is up to the individual, state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Delaware, said during his visit yesterday.

About 20 people, including students and staff, attended an open community session to meet and discuss race and gender with the state representative and chairman of The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus in HUB Heritage Hall.

Kirkland said he and his staff are concerned with both issues, at Penn State and across the country.

Ron Starr, Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus executive director, accompanied Kirkland and said his staff also planned to meet with Penn State staff, student organizations and student leaders throughout the day to discuss the racial climate on campus. Starr said the staff would end its visit today by meeting with Penn State President Graham Spanier.

Starr said Penn State's Black Caucus contacted the state Legislative Black Caucus to share their concerns about diversity on campus. He said Kirkland and his staff came to Penn State to investigate the racial climate on campus, and by doing so, see how they can help bridge the gaps between the administration and students.

"To close the divide between students and the faculty," Starr said.

In response to a question about the need for more diversity-based curriculum, Kirkland said it is wonderful that Penn State offers diversity programs and classes on campus, but he said diversity should start in the community.

Kirkland said he grew up in a diverse community. However, he said it is more difficult for college students who come from either all-white or all-black settings because they have only four years to develop in a diverse climate.

"It is my belief -- my personal belief -- that diversity programs and dealing with diversity issues cannot and will not happen in four years," Kirkland said. "[A] person has to take advantage of those programs, but also pay attention to their studies."

Kirkland also addressed one student's idea to make Sociology 119 (Race and Ethnic Relations) a required course to build better race relations. Kirkland asked those in attendance to look at the tables around them. He said only one table was diverse because it included a black woman, a white man and black men.

"People choose to be diverse," Kirkland said. "It's good to have a class, a

course, but in order for me to understand people, I have to be able to sit down with them."

Instead, Kirkland said classes should be made available so students have the opportunity "to be part of something that makes them better."

Kirkland also answered questions regarding his payroll increase, internship opportunities offered at his office and how to deal with the racial climate on campus.

He said students have the responsibility to take a stand to address race relations issues. He added that everyone needs to sit down together and "agree to disagree" and realize that the racial climate on campus did not evolve over night and will not change over night.

"It's the student's responsibility to understand that they have some stake in this," Kirkland said.

Jewel Dunn (graduate-educational theory and policy) attended the session and said she liked Kirkland's point that diversity change is "multi-purpose" in that it requires all people to get involved.

"It doesn't come to you," she said. "You have to initiate it."