The women of Delta Sigma Theta want people to open their pockets.

The sorority recently began fund-raising efforts to assist the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc. to aid residents of the small town of Tulia, Texas.

Last summer, 46 Tulia, Texas residents were arrested as part of a drug sting conducted by a special police officer brought in by the Cochran County Police Department.

Of those arrested, 40 were black, three were Mexican, and three were whites in interracial relationships.

According to the video, the officer had no tangible evidence to convict the citizens, except for his handwriting on his leg that he wrote during a drug deal.

"I was surprised that they didn't have any evidence against them, and the only thing they had was him writing on his leg," merchandising management sophomore Glenda Olivache said.

Standing in front of the room handing out brochures and pledge sheets, social relations senior Malaika Ward urged everyone to persuade as many people as they can to donate money.

"And what's the word we're going to use?" asked Ward, social action chair for the sorority.

"Tax-deductible," the audience responded in unison.

Several residents are still incarcerated. Child development senior Traci Wooley said members of the sorority took action as soon as they found out about the situation.

"Since it's African-American based, we want to do our part to help out," said Wooley, recording secretary for the sorority.

So far, members of the sorority have spread the word through their Web site and word-of-mouth, but they are working to put together more programs to get the word out, Wooley said.

"We're taking it upon ourselves to let the campus know," she said. "We're going to solicit funds until we can get the last drop of money from everybody."

Ron Craig, adviser for the National Panhellenic Council, said the Tulia case is an example of racism across the country.

"One doesn't have to travel to Tulia to experience those kinds of things," he said.

Craig said the media plays a role in why many people don't know about the situation in Tulia, and the sorority has to work hard to get the word out.

"A bunch of African Americans sitting in jail is not the priority of mainstream media," he said. "Just because they haven't received due process doesn't mean it's not really relevant."

For more information, visit www.naacpldf.org.