Speakers from minority campus organizations will encouage students at a forum tonight to look beyond prejudices and deal with people on a more human level.

The open forum is sponsored by the resident assistants in the Grant Towers North D-Formal Lounge at 8:30 p.m.

Members of the Black Student Union and the Gay/Lesbian Union will be among those speaking about their organizations during the question and answer session.

Dan Modeff, an RA at Grant North, said “the BSU and GLU are the two most misunderstood groups on campus.” He said he organized the forum to provide an opportunity for students to ask members of the minority groups questions about the groups’ purpose on campus. He said that many students have questions which need to be answered.

Modeff said the reason for doing the program is “the major problem of ignorance resulting from the lack of communication between students and the minority groups on NIU’s campus.”

Donna Phillips, an RA at Grant North, said the people who attend the forum will become more aware of the minority organizations. She said if people know what the groups represent they might be less likely to discriminate against them.

Treasurer Tim Ivy is one of the members of the Black Student Union who will be speaking at the forum. He said he hopes that answering questions about the union will destroy the misconceptions about what black organizations are and what they do.

Ivy said he wants people to know that NIU does not promote racism, despite the controversy and rumors. He said, “Hopefully, if people understand that, they won’t feel threatened by black organizations.”

Co-President of the GLU, Dan Greenwood, said the question and answer session should help to “dispel stereotypes and break down barriers.”

Greenwood said the GLU acts as a support group for NIU and DeKalb. He said answering questions about gay lifestyles will make people realize that there are a diverse group of people at NIU but basically people are the same.

The GLU offers to send out speakers to various classes, such as human sexuality.

To promote the forum RAs from GTN are posting signs around campus and encouraging all interested students to attend.