More than 40 people attended the annual Unity in Diversity ceremony Wednesday afternoon that recognized the winner of a poster contest and highlighted the new Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center.

"UID annual ceremonies are necessary," said Louise Steeves, this year's winner for the UID theme contest and a senior communication major. "It gives students an opportunity to express their feelings on diversity issues. I think it is a great idea, and I like to get involved with diversity issues."

The theme this year is "Unity in Diversity: Explore, Create, Appreciate."

Adding to the theme, Angel Hernandez, a senior communication major and Northern Star assistant production manager, designed the winning poster for the contest.

"I think most of all, it is the title: Unity in Diversity," Hernandez said. "I just thought the organization represents something positive for students and the university."

Michelle Bringas, chair of the Unity in Diversity Steering Committee, announced the new display, which will be placed at the Holmes Student Center Café.

"Margie had an idea to write a Pepsi grant to frame all the UID posters from 1998 to present," Bringas said.

The display will remain in the café, and every year a new poster will be added to the gallery, Bringas added.

Along with recognizing the winner for the contest, the ceremony also highlighted the new LGBT Resource Center with a PowerPoint presentation by Margie Cook, coordinator for the LGBT Resource Center.

"Every year we invited someone who is involved with diversity issues to present at the ceremony," Bringas said. "We asked Margie this year because we thought it would be a good way to highlight her move and to give attention to LGBT Awareness Month."

The presentation started with Cook sharing an essay written by a gay high school student. Cook shared the story as a reminder of the isolation the LGBT community faces.

Following the story was a short overview of NIU's LGBT program's development as well as services the LGBT resources center provides. The LGBT Resource Center not only serves NIU, but also DeKalb and other institutions that need information on LGBT issues.

"Many days I certainly feel like what I probably am: The only little gay resource center on the prairie," Cook said. "People come from near and far because this little office that I run is an oasis."

Members of different religions on campus have their own beliefs about the war in Iraq, but it seems all anyone wants is peace.

The Rev. John Peterson with the Judson Baptist Fellowship, said there is no United Baptist position concerning the war.

He said it comes down to a question of whether there is justification to go to war.

"It seemed like we kind of dashed in," he said. "Maybe our president knew something we didn't know."

Saddam's actions against his own people were also a reason to go to war, but it is hard to say if it was justification, he said. The Baptist religion is based on forgiveness, respect and moving on; therefore, the "eye for an eye" concept should not be a motivator for war.

"We have to understand war is an evil in itself," he said. "You'd have to be going [to war] because you're trying to squash an incredible evil."

The NIU Muslim Student Association Web site stated that one principle of Islam is oneness of mankind.

"People are created equal in front of the law of God," it states. "There is no superiority for one race over another."

Maie Seif, co-president of the MSA and a sophomore biology major, said Islam is about forgiveness, and war is only justified as a last resort.

"If you want to go to war, it must be pretty serious," she said. "There are better ways to solve conflicts other than going to war."

She said Muslims say there should be etiquette of war. There should be no killing of innocent civilians and no destruction of cities and towns.

She said this etiquette includes the treatment of prisoners of war. They are not killed, they are treated "almost as guests," and they are not tortured or starved, she said.

"You should always respect who you are fighting," she said.

Brent Batiste, with Campus Crusade for Christ, said the Christian religion is rooted in love and peace. He said Saddam's tyrannical rule over his people and his cruelty are wrong.

According to a statement issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in time of war, the first obligation is prayer and solidarity.

The statement also stressed the preservation of life.

"In all our actions in war, including assessments of whether collateral damage is proportionate, we must value the lives and livelihood of Iraqi civilians as we would the lives and livelihood of our own families and our own citizens," it stated.

Peterson's own thoughts on civilian casualties echoed this, and he added that war represents the "fall of humanity."

The Catholic statement echoed this, stating that war "is always a defeat for humanity."

Batiste said he thinks there was just cause for stepping into the event in the Middle East, and it may be a worse crime to sit by and not help those in need.

He added that war cannot fix everything in this world and peace is a matter of the heart.

"We can never fully accomplish everything with military might," he said.

NIU President John Peters has a full plate.

In addition to presiding over the university, he was elected as the Chair of the Council of Mid-American Conference Presidents by his fellow MAC presidents this past February, and has been active in his role since then.

For the next two years, Peters will focus on improving athletic and academic difficulties at MAC schools. Peters is one of the first chairmen who is not from Michigan or Ohio, which dominate MAC sports.

On his agenda is increasing media exposure of MAC athletics. He has started working with MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst to negotiate television packages to gain more Chicago-area TV coverage of MAC games involving NIU and other universities. He also hopes to schedule upcoming MAC media events in Chicagoland.

"I would like to do what I can to promote NIU sports to the MAC and the rest of the nation," Peters said.

One goal Peters has is holding this year's football media day in Chicago, which Director of Public Relations Melanie Magara described as "the press' first look at the teams for the year." Media day is usually held in Michigan or Ohio, where most of the MAC schools are, but Peters hopes to change that this year.

Peters said he was chosen as the chairman because it is not only recognized that NIU is a solid member of the MAC, but also because of NIU's competitive programs. Peters also has an athletics background.

"The other MAC presidents chose Dr. Peters because he does have extensive experience at large schools with very large athletic programs," Magara said. "He understands what a successful athletic program can bring to a university."

In the past, Peters has been involved with the athletic administration at both the University of Nebraska and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

One issue that will also be focused on is the new academic progress standards that the NCAA has put forth, which are aimed at trying to get higher graduation rates among student athletes. Peters said the implementation of those standards over the next few years will be a challenge.

A national issue that Peters intends on tackling for the MAC is sportsmanship and fan behavior. Although there have been few occasions where Peters has witnessed problems in these areas at NIU, he said that there have been MAC games in which NIU has been involved in where there have been some "post-game antics that were not appreciated."

To combat these situations, Peters said it starts with having enough security and making sure that the visiting teams are visibly protected. But just that is not enough.

"We have to do some education," Peters said. "I think everyone has to get involved."