After weeks of campus-wide controversy, Penn State College Republicans will hold Illegal Immigration Awareness Day today -- an event aimed to raise awareness about illegal immigration and highlight the positive aspects of legal immigration.

Members of the College Republicans and Latino Caucus will answer questions and distribute information from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today around campus and in the HUB-Robeson Center.

College Republicans Chairman Seth Bender said he is optimistic about the event's success.

"I think it's a great opportunity for people to learn about and discuss legal immigration," Bender said. "I'm looking forward to generating more discussion on campus."

All of the participants will wear orange shirts that say "Got facts?"

A public forum will also be held at 8 tonight in 112 Kern to discuss immigration and respond to the day's events.

"The Latino Caucus and College Republicans are doing everything in unison," Bender said. "Members of each group will have an opportunity to discuss how they feel about illegal immigration ... and people from the audience can also share their stories and experiences with immigration."

College Republicans originally planned to hold a "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Game," which would reward students with a prize for capturing participants acting as illegal immigrants.

However, the Latino and Black caucuses responded angrily to the idea. After discussions between the College Republicans and Latino Caucus, the game was eliminated and more emphasis was placed on education.

Last week, Penn State issued a statement urging event planners to rethink their approach to Illegal Immigration Awareness Day.

According to the statement, Penn State President Graham Spanier said the event plans were "unproductive and offensive to many."

On Thursday, more than 150 students demonstrated against the College Republicans' plans at a rally staged by members of True Voices -- an unofficial student group promoting equality.

Black Caucus Vice President Darryl Watson said members of True Voices will wear white shirts today to distinguish themselves from College Republican and Latino Caucus members.

"We are wearing white shirts to make it easier to spot those who are wearing orange," Watson said. "Students can then approach those people [in orange shirts] and ask questions or do whatever they feel is necessary."

Last night, nearly 40 students and community members attended a dramatic reading sponsored by the Campus Catholic Ministry and Mexican-American Student Association that aimed to give a voice to illegal immigrants.

Catholic Campus Minister Barbara Ballenger said the event was prompted by the immigration debate that is sweeping campus.

"Unfortunately, a lot of the rhetoric on immigration that I've heard on campus doesn't reflect the fact that immigration is a complex issue involving the lives and well-being of real people," Ballenger said. "It is not as simple as rounding up and catching 'law breakers' or 'evil-doers' and sending them back where they came from. And it's not a game."

Spanish lecturer Edgar Cota said he does not support Illegal Immigration Awareness Day because he considers himself an immigrant -- his mother crossed the border to give birth to him and then returned to Mexico.

"I don't have any problem with other people not supporting immigration, but there are certain ways to express that perspective -- and this is not it," Cota said.