The University NAACP group is offering a fun-filled week of festivities and education opportunities to students and Baton Rouge community members. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is a nationwide civil rights organization, and the University group’s goal is to serve for community outreach, said Devon Wade, sociology senior. “We inform members of campus about social issues that affect LSU,” Wade said. “We do services that educate people about being involved in their community.”Each day of the week features an activity, ranging from a board game night to a member appreciation night. Members gathered in the West Campus Apartments’ Activity Center on Tuesday for games like Battle of the Sexes and Taboo. Wade is hosting an event on Friday called “Man on Fire: Fire Safety and Prevention.” He said the group will host the Baton Rouge Boys & Girls Club, and the children will learn firearm safety measures.Monday’s event was a political forum where students could discuss current political issues and debate in an informal setting. Political science junior Kenn Barnes planned the event and said they discussed Haiti, the “don’t ask, don’t tell” military policy and problems in Uganda. “We stated facts and then opened the discussion up about what should be done,” said Keisha Perkins, art senior. Barnes said they discussed budget cuts and decided to call Louisiana representatives to express concern. “We need to do something that we can change,” Barnes said. “We’re trying to make [the representatives] more responsible.”Barnes said he hopes this week will create cohesion between current members and get new members involved. The University NAACP group does service projects during the year to promote acting community service such as singing Christmas carols to the elderly and providing for a family during Thanksgiving. Barnes said the NAACP branch on campus gives all minorities an active club in which to do community service. The club has around 30 members, but students are welcome to attend meetings. Other events for this week include “Love Jones: Be Safe & Sweet” in Free Speech Alley on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., NAACP Member Appreciation Night on Thursday at 5 p.m. in Lockett and the service project at the Boys & Girls Club on Friday at 4 p.m. —-Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected]