University President Joab Thomas said he will present the faculty senate's recommendation to add "sexual orientation" to Penn State's non-discrimination policy to the Board of Trustees at its May meeting.

Thomas said yesterday that the recommendation will be on the agenda for the board's May 16 and 17 meeting. He said he will talk with board Chairwoman Mimi Coppersmith Fredman before presenting the information to the board.

"We will only be considering how we will present the senate's recommendation," Thomas said yesterday. "I have no intention of bringing my own statement before the board."

On March 19, the senate recommended adding the words "sexual orientation" to the non-discrimination policy after reviewing a senate subcommittee's recommendation.

The committee rejected Thomas' original clause, drafted last October, calling it "ambiguous." In a report, the committee said specific wording was needed to protect members of the gay community.

Donald Rung, professor of mathematics and chairman of the subcommittee, said he is pleased with Thomas' decision to add the senate's proposal to the board's agenda.

"I hope Thomas and the trustees accept the recommendation, and if they do not accept the recommendation, I hope they articulate why," Rung said. "I think if they don't accept it, the faculty is owed an explanation."

But Alliance Christian Fellowship Pastor Glen Bayly, who strongly opposes the clause, said he is not happy with Thomas' decision.

"I presumed it would go this way because public opinion has swung so much in the direction of accepting the homosexual lifestyle," Bayly said.

Craig Waldo, political co-director of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Alliance, said he is ecstatic.

"The evidence has been building up and it's overwhelmingly in support of the additon of the sexual orientation clause," Waldo said. "We've been working for this for years and it's great that our work is finally coming to fruition."

Waldo said he is confident the board will vote in favor of the senate's recommendation.

The University's current policy prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, age, handicap, sex, or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran.