The University's revised Code of Conduct policy states more clearly what acts of harassment and intolerance are punishable, an administrator told members of the Lesbian and Gay Student Alliance last night.

Under the new policy harassment is defined under the code of conduct, and intolerance is defined in a separate section of the policy, said Pat Peterson, vice president of Student Life.

"Any violation of the code of conduct will get punished," Peterson said. "If that student is motivated by intolerance, then the penalty will be escalated."

Although the revised policy statement mentions protection for acts of free speech, students cannot say anything they want to and go unpunished, she said.

It is possible to punish a student for acts that are not against the law, she said, but not if those acts are protected by freedom of speech.

The original policy, which listed harassment under intolerance, was confusing because people expected that acts of intolerance could be punished as acts of harassment, Peterson said.

"We expect that the current policy on the books will do something that they don't," said LGSA adviser Lisa Henderson.

Members of LGSA also requested statistics from Peterson on violence against gays and lesbians for a survey by the National Lesbian and Gay Task Force.

Peterson said she was reluctant to release a tally of violent acts committed because the data may be misinterpreted, adding she will discuss the statistics with members at a later date.

Peterson added that although the number of reported violent acts against gays and lesbians has decreased in the past year, she does not think harassment and intolerance have decreased.