HERSHEY -- Penn State's decision to send the women's basketball team packing last week reflects a more widespread lack of concern for women at the University, the chairwoman of the Commission for Women told the University Board of Trustees on Friday.

"The outrage that was felt throughout the campus was shared by the commission," Commission Director Jill Findeis said. "Excellence in program must be rewarded."

In a controversial decision made in February, administrators reserved Rec Hall for a possible first-round game in the National Invitation Tournament for the men's basketball team's. The move cost the Lady Lions a home game in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Lady Lions were seeded seventh in the East region, and their opponent, Florida State, was seeded 10th.

The men's and women's teams both played Wednesday night -- the men at home against Marquette and the women in Tallahassee, Fla. More than 100 people gathered outside of Rec Hall to protest the decision and listen to the Lady Lions' game on the radio.

During the board's Committee on Affirmative Action report, Findeis also expressed disappointment that although women in leadership positions at the University have increased since 1985, progress in certain areas has been slow.

Positions have been open, women have been in the pool, but the result has not been women increasing in administrative positions," Findeis said.

The number of women executives at the University rose from 12 to 20 percent in the past five years and the women now make up 22 percent of the faculty, Findeis said. In 1985, 19.3 percent of the faculty was composed of women.

But increases within the administration have been less impressive, Findeis said. The number of women administrators has increased from 8.7 to 10 percent and the number of women filling academic administrative positions -- such as department heads and deans -- rose from 7.2 to 9 percent, she said.

"There is perception that quality women are being passed over for positions," Findeis said.

Trustee Mimi Coppersmith said she did not believe the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics' decision to move the Lady Lions was sexist and blamed the media for much of the public outcry over the move.

"There was probably more even-handedness in this decision than the press portrayed," Coppersmith said.

But Trustee Nancy Kidd said when she joined the board seven years ago women's athletic coaches complained to her about their programs' treatment.

"Women in sports were being treated as second-class citizens in the athletic department," Kidd said. After the meeting, she added that some of the problems seem to have re-emerged.

"I see it as a problem -- look at our image," she said.

Steve Garban, senior vice president for finance and operations and treasurer, said the decision was neither financial nor sexist. When the decision was made, he explained, the women were third in the Atlantic 10 and it was not anticipated that they would be able to play their first round of the NCAA tournament in Rec Hall.