After almost three months of discussion, a Faculty Senate subcommittee has rejected University President Joab Thomas' proposed addition to the University's non-discrimination policy in favor of including the words "sexual orientation."

According to the subcommittee's report, "(Thomas') proposed statement has the potential for protecting all members of the University community, but was generally seen as not sufficiently specific to protect the members of the gay, lesbian and bisexual community."

The subcommittee will present its recommendation to the Faculty Senate at 1:30 today in 112 Kern. Thomas requested the senate's advice on his proposed clause last semester.

"There is a need for (a sexual orientation clause)," said subcommittee chair Donald C. Rung, adding that most Pennsylvania universities, eight Big Ten universities and all Ivy League schools have sexual orientation clauses.

The Faculty Senate will decide whether or not to follow the recommendation and will present its decision to Thomas who can heed or disregard it. Any change in the policy must be approved by the University's Board of Trustees.

The clause Thomas proposed states that the University will protect all students and employees from discrimination and bases all educational and employment decisions on an individual's abilities -- not personal characteristics.

Vice Provost for Underrepresented Groups James Stewart called the subcommittee's research thorough, but refused to comment specifically on the recommendation until the Faculty Senate decides.

"I think that the President (Thomas) asked the Faculty Senate for advice because he wanted to have the imput from the Faculty Senate as a major governing body," Stewart said. "I'm sure that he will be gratified that the Faculty Senate has moved so quickly."

In its recommendation, the subcommittee said that a sexual orientation clause would not force the ROTC program off campus. Sexual orientation clauses and ROTC programs coexist at countless schools nationwide, Rung said.

The University's ROTC classes are open to anyone. ROTC scholarships and military commissions are withheld from gay men and lesbians because of the U.S. Department of Defense's exclusion of gay people from the military.

The subcommittee also cited increasing rates of violence against gay men and lesbians on campus, as reported in faculty and University studies during the last four years.

University faculty members who spoke at a February hearing disagreed on the subcommittee's recommendation.

William Tierney, chair of the Committee on Gay and Lesbian Concerns, applauded the recommendation and said he expects the Faculty Senate's approval.

"Given the unfortunate comments of Rene Portland in the last week makes the need for the (sexual orientation) clause clear," he said. "And given the current climate on campus, it is clear that there are acts of intolerance against gay men and lesbians on campus."

But Glen Bayly, campus minister of Alliance Christian Fellowship, disagreed.

"As we have been, we continue to oppose that language," Bayly said. We feel that it would be damaging to the community as a whole and to the homosexuals because it basically endorses their lifestyle as a healthy, valid lifestyle."

Faculty Senate Chair Peter Deines appointed 11 people drawn from University faculty, staff and students to serve on the subcommittee.