Members of the Black Caucus met in the HUB-Robeson Center last night to discuss the beginning stages of what it said will be an effort to bring many diverse student groups together and address Penn State's rising tuition costs.

Ten students gathered for the "Coalition of Poor College Students' " first meeting to "Stop Penn $tate'$ War on the Poor."

Darryl Watson, president of the Black Caucus, said he expected members of the College Republicans to come to the meeting, but none did because of a miscommunication.

Darryl McKnight, Black Caucus secretary, said that it would make an impression if groups that are traditionally considered to be on the opposite ends of the spectrum, such as the Black Caucus and College Republicans, could come together for this cause.

"The university would be blindsided," he said.

Watson said the idea to bring the groups together stemmed from a discussion he had with Undergraduate Student Government senator Angelo Pontillo, where both realized that rising tuition affects all students at Penn State.

"You will get a tuition bill whether you're black or white at Penn State," Watson said.

Pontillo said he was not aware of last night's "War on the Poor" meeting, but was comfortable with Watson taking the lead in the effort.

He said Undergraduate Student Government typically holds demonstrations against tuition increases and that he hopes that spring's demonstration will attract "a couple thousand people."

At the meeting, several ways the university could help lower students' costs were discussed, including addressing the student activity fee, textbook prices and construction.

"That new gym can go," Black Caucus vice president Tyisha Burroughs said, referring to the recently renovated Rec Hall. "We are overpaying for our education -- it's Penn State, not Harvard."