The shout "Discrimination sucks!" accompanied the cool breeze pushing through the second-floor window screen beside Vice Provost for Underrepresented Groups James Stewart yesterday. As he heard the cry, Stewart's gaze rested on the scene outside Old Main.

More than 50 sign-waving people marched in circles, protesting the lack of a formal University statement on women's basketball coach Rene Portland's alleged policy of barring lesbians from her team.

Protesters aimed to catch the attention of administrators leaving their offices for lunch. But few people, administrators or otherwise, passed through Old Main's front doors.

As the crowd grew in size and volume, a woman scurried down Old Main's steps, distributing a paper outlining the University's stance on the allegations.

The statement, released by Stewart, read: "The University has articulated, repeatedly, that discrimination against any member of the Penn State community is unacceptable. . . . We will continue to work in an orderly process toward building an environment at Penn State where all faculty, staff and students can pursue their educational interests without discrimination or harassment."

The statement also specified that the allegations against Portland are being addressed internally by the University's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

But most protesters were not satisfied with Stewart's statement. After reading the statement aloud to the crowd, Jeff Kemp, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Alliance social educational co-director asked: "Is this from the President?" The crowd responded, "No!"

"Does this say lesbian, gay and bisexual people will get their (sexual orientation) clause?" Kemp yelled. Again, the crowd answered no.

"Then let's go!" Kemp shouted, to many cheers.

Other protesters agreed with Kemp's criticisms.

"It seemed pretty hollow," State College resident Eric Wheeler said. "It didn't say a damn thing."

Stewart said, "Clearly, the statement released this morning was the product of the insights of a variety of officers that saw the need to make a statement."

University President Joab Thomas is out of the country until later this week and could not be reached for comment.

Terrell Jones, special assistant to the provost for underrepresented groups, watched the demonstrators from Old Main's steps.

"I think (the protest is) an excellent idea," Jones said. "Certainly our students have the right to protest."

After protesting outside, the demonstrators moved into the lobby and linked hands, chanting "Respond now! Where's the clause?"

Protesters also planned to jam Old Main's telephone lines and fax machines to voice their opposition to Portland's alleged policy and to urge the University to add the specific words "sexual orientation" to the University's non-discrimination policy. LGBSA members solicited help from gay rights and civil rights groups in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York and Washington, D.C.

A secretary in Thomas' office refused to comment on any telephone calls and faxes the office received and would not allow other secretaries to comment.

However, Stewart said the flow of calls to both Thomas' office and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics yesterday was higher than usual.

Demonstrators, including members from LGBSA, Penn State Pro-Choice and the Ni-Ta-Nee chapter of the National Organization for Women, vowed to continue their protests until Thomas responds and the University adopts a sexual orientation clause.

"I'm just not through with this yet," said Brian Pyle (junior-general arts and sciences). "We're just going to be here as long as we need to be and as loud as we need to be."