The second-annual “Peace not Prejudice Film Festival” aimed to help end stereotypes and misconceptions of specific campus organizations.

The Muslim Student Association hosted the event Wednesday night for about 300 students in the Oklahoma Memorial Union Ballroom.

“This event tried to break some of the stereotypes that are known for different groups of people, and gave the entire campus an opportunity to understand different groups of people better,” said Omar Alamoudi, geophysics sophomore.

Eight organizations participated, including Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association, American Indian Student Association, International Advisory Committee, Delta Phi Omega, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends, Hillel Jewish Student Organization, Alpha Phi Alpha and the Muslim Student Association.

“When we started planning the event, we realized the cause was bigger than one organization,” said Anum Syed, co-founder of the event.

Syed, zoology and psychology senior, said the Muslim Student Association members realized stereotyping was not limited to their group.

These different ethnic, religious, racial, sexuality and gender-based organizations wrote and filmed short videos about misconceptions people have toward them.

Everyone has faced stereotypes at one time, said Stephanie Diaz, dental hygiene junior.

Diaz, the Sisters Chair for the association, said the student organizations like participating in the film festival. She said they all come together for the event even though they normally do their own thing and do not interact with other organizations.

Diaz said she hoped students on campus would not assume things of people before they meet them.

Lindsay Gardner, University College freshman, said she came for her sorority’s multicultural credit.

“I’m involved in other activities on campus, but I like to see what everyone else is doing,” Gardner said. “I think [the event] will help people be more understanding of people of other cultures and backgrounds.”

Anum said organizing was challenging because of the scale of the event. She said incorporating multiple organizations made the event unique and also took a lot of teamwork and coordination.

The judges for the event included Honors College Dean David Ray, Honors College professor Marcia Chatelain and journalism professor Kathryn Jenson White.

The panel of judges chose the top three videos, and the audience chose the recipient of the Viewers’ Choice Award. International Advisory Committee, the first place winner and viewers’ choice award recipient, won $400 in cash. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends won second place, and Alpha Phi Alpha won third place.