I recently saw that the National Coming Out Day (NCOD) participants were wearing T-shirts depicting the Nittany Lion coming out of the closet. I abhor the use of our mascot in this way.

When someone uses the Nittany Lion, he or she implies that they speak for the entire university. I have no argument with NCOD; in fact, I believe it is beneficial to many people. But they have no right to speak for Penn State and no right to use our mascot.

I recently was discussing making a T-shirt with some of my friends, with whom I play in a Christian band. They wanted to make a T-shirt with the Nittany Lion praying at the foot of the cross, but I objected to this because I understand that we as a Christian community cannot misappropriate symbols like the Nittany Lion for our own use. I have the respect for my fellow students not to misuse the reputation of our school, and I'm both disappointed and angry that other groups on campus don't have the same respect.

I have a great deal of respect for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community and its allies (LGBTA), and I wish only to object to their speaking for Penn State as a whole. I expect that all groups, including the NCOD organizers, will have the decency not to speak for people they don't represent.