ARCATA -- Humboldt State University will be holding its first campuswide forum on race and diversity tonight.

The meeting will be both an informational session and a discussion venue, and will review recent incidents pertaining to race on campus and in Arcata. HSU Public Information Officer Paul Mann said work on diversity issues is an ongoing process at the university and the forum will be the first in a continuing series.

Mann said diversity is a major concern on campus, and the recent arrests of two HSU students was one of the catalysts for the forum. Two female students are facing felony battery charges after allegedly attacking Arcata Police Officer Ben Whetstine on Feb. 27. HSU faculty and staff have written letters on behalf of the students, Katya Amina and Natalie Dawley, calling them role models within the black community at HSU.

Racist fliers alluding to the arrests were recently found in several men's restrooms on campus. However, Mann said difficulties had emerged surrounding the issues of race and diversity even before the arrests.

"The arrests galvanized interest to address the problem further," he said.

The university held a planning meeting for the forum a few weeks ago, Mann said, and turnout was good. He is expecting the forum tonight might be standing room only.

"We hope to get as many ideas for how to proceed to address the issue of diversity," he said.

The forum discussion will be organized into three phases. Opening speakers will be followed by an open mike session and attendees will be asked to submit written questions. The meeting will conclude with a synthesis of the ideas and recommendations brought up during the discussion.

HSU has been working on a diversity plan for months, Mann said, and drafts of the plan should be available soon. Included in the plan are ways to attract more international students and minority students, as well as more faculty and staff of color.

"Diversity makes for a much more cosmopolitan and interesting campus," Mann said. "Different perspectives are instrumental to a good education."