Members of Allies and the Penn State College Republicans met Friday to discuss this week's controversial "Conservative Coming Out Day" rally.

Fliers advertising the rally, which is scheduled for noon Thursday on the steps of Old Main, sparked debate when they were posted around campus last week.

Many students said they thought the event mocked National Coming Out Day, a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and its allies (LGBTA).

"It's fine that they want a day to express their opinions," Kelly Ross, a member of Allies, said. "[But] mocking a day that is important to so many people ... is ridiculous."

College Republicans chair Brian Battaglia said he didn't feel as though either group had benefited from the meeting, even though it might have clarified Allies members' concerns about the event.

"We realize that all the fliers are not going to sit well with everyone, and we can never please everyone on campus. We try not to target any individuals or groups exclusively," he said.

Battaglia said the group decided to call the event a "coming out day" because he thinks conservatives are often looked down upon by faculty and sometimes discriminated against in class.

"It's hard for some people, especially in liberal arts majors, to actually discuss their conservative ideas and beliefs for fear that it could hurt their grades," he said.

Battaglia said he has seen the discrimination through university administrators' establishing programs for diversity and other liberal ideals.

He said the event was a way to make students aware that they might be conservative, and to spark activism among conservatives who are not involved in student groups.

"We want to let people know that they may agree with a lot of things that we do and they may be really conservative and there's a lot they can do around campus."

Sara Ryan, co-president of Allies, said the group supports the College Republicans' effort if students feel they are discriminated against because of their political and ideological beliefs.

Allies does not, however, support the fliers which the group used last week to publicize the upcoming rally.

"We're an organization on campus that supports all students and student groups who feel that they are marginalized because of their status as minorities," Ryan said.

Ryan said her main concern was that College Republicans' fliers alienated the LGBTA community.

"One of Allies' missions is to be an organization on campus that coalition-builds with other groups on campus," Ryan said.

"We don't differentiate between who we're going to coalition-build with."

Battaglia said the controversial fliers were meant to spark discussion and debate, but they were not targeted at a specific group.

"They are meant to get people thinking," he said.

Ryan said she was worried the College Republicans were trying to push away other minority groups to promote their cause.

"If you want to have a voice as a marginalized group, you can never do it alone," she said.

"You need to always have allies."

She said she couldn't speculate on whether the rally is mocking National Coming Out Day.

"I can only trust that what they said is true," Ryan said.

Battaglia said that he hoped the rally , despite the fliers, would have a large turnout.

"People may be offended by fliers now ... but I'd still encourage them to come out to this."