Continuing their Know Your Rights campaign from January, students from the now defunct Undergraduate Student Government (USG) are sponsoring a series of events this week to educate students about their rights.

Gavin Keirans, a former member of USG who organized Awareness Week, said that there is a lack of knowledge among Penn State students about student government. Instead of being about issues such as tuition and student representation, elections are more of a popularity contest, he said.

"The key [of Awareness Week] is to educate the students," Keirans said.

Events planned include a Know Your Rights presentation, a Minority Empowerment Panel and the distribution of an information pamphlet, Penn State's Common Paine, an allusion to Thomas Paine's 18th century work Common Sense.

Nick Stathes, former USG president, said it is important for students to understand what's going on at their university.

"Students need a good understanding of the things that affect them. Without that information, students can make choices not in their best interest," he said.

The week kicks off with the Know Your Rights presentation at 8 p.m. tomorrow in 102 Thomas. Students will have the opportunity to learn the specifics about tuition hikes, financial aid, funding reductions and student representation at Penn State.

The event's speakers will include Stathes, Keirans, several other former USG members and University Park Undergraduate Association Off-Campus Representative Tom Shakely. Keirans said the biggest event of the week is the Minority Empowerment Panel at 8 p.m. Wednesday in 102 Thomas. Several representatives from various minority groups on campus will be given about four minutes to speak about student representation, the groups' relationships with the administration and issues they feel need to be addressed. An open forum where students can ask questions will follow the event.

Stathes said he hopes students will be interested in Awareness Week because they want to understand the implications of decisions their leaders are making.

"Students are more than eager to be informed in this new era of awareness. Students will not accept bad decisions made on their behalf," he said.