Few events place students from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Louisiana Tech and Grambling State University all in one room, but one forum did.

Each university’s respective NAACP chapter attended a forum called “Born Suspect” hosted in Grambling’s Student Union Building last Monday evening.

The forum related to current events surrounding racial tensions in society, according to Brea Mays, senior biology major and Vice President of ULM’s NAACP chapter.

Mays said the forum enlightened college students that “all police officers should not be seen as harmful” and showed they can come together to express concerns and plans to executive their objective efficiently and successfully.

The event’s guest speaker, Rev. Ike Byrd, III, informed the students on the importance of respecting authority, acknowledging the importance of appearance and working together as a group on tasks rather than individually.

The speaker even gave an example of a group attempting to find a missing girl. When a group looked for her, it quickly found her. When only one individual looked for her, no one could locate her.

“This was important because it showed us the importance of unity,” Mays said.

She also said she believes in respecting authority figures in any situation.

“If any student encounters a situation with a police officer, remain respectful at all times,” Mays said.

The forum also discussed methods to reach out to youth and peers such as creating stronger bonds with their mentees.

Grambling’s chapter invited ULM and Louisiana Tech to participate and to share personal stories and attempts to build up the community.

Kaici Gordon, a junior biology major, said it was important for the event to unite the three universities for an important cause.

“It is rare that we are able to get together since we do not play sports that allow us to link together; however, the event drew schools in close proximity together and it was a blessing,” Gordon said.

Gordon also said she was glad to participate because of the increasing number of youth in the community that could “use the guidance and leadership of college students and adults.”

She said the program helped instill the need to serve others.

“I would love for everyone who has the heart to serve to find some cause in Monroe, his or her hometown or in some region and begin to initiate some kind of program to help the citizens of that area,” Gordon said.

Gordon also called service “paramount” and encouraged the college generation to “be the change that the world can see.”

Students interested in joining  ULM’s NAACP can attend the chapter’s Wednesday meetings at 6:30 p.m. in Strauss 270. The deadline to join the chapter is Sept. 30.