Representatives and leaders from various student organizations came together last night to discuss diversity issues around campus in a diversity forum organized by the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA).

Bryant Poland, UPUA diversity and campus relations chairman, thought the event was positive.

"I think it went well. We had a lot of people willing to express their issues and concerns about diversity issues," he said. "We'll have many more of them. It's essential."

Poland said he was encouraged by the turnout of about 20, considering the event took place at a time when many people were already home for spring break.

The representatives discussed a broad array of issues. One of the topics of discussion was whether or not the campus has made strides toward becoming more diverse in recent years. Most agreed that it was more diverse and accepting, especially towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

The representatives also discussed strategies their groups could use to increase diversity awareness around campus, including how to handle relations with the media and administration and how they could better work together to coordinate programming.

Specific to UPUA, the group discussed the possibility of eliminating the three voting representatives selected from campus relations subcommittees for racial, LGBTA and women's affairs. Nearly all the representatives voiced opinions against eliminating the minority posts, which remain unfilled in the current UPUA. Jay Chamberlin, UPUA president, said students interested in joining the committees, which are the only parts of UPUA with open membership, could contact UPUA.