I'd like to respond to Timothy Best's letter, "Portland has right to due process of law," Nov. 17. The time for questions has passed; it's time to get answers and it's time to take action. Last March, a group of my lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender peers and I met with administrators, and we presented objectives that would help foster a more welcoming campus climate.

One of our 10 objectives included "actual or perceived gender identity and gender expression" in the university's non-discrimination policy. In addition to supporting other groups, our inclusions would explicitly protect women who style their hair with cornrows, who dislike dresses and high heels, who are in the military, who play sports, etc.

Last month we received a message from Penn State President Graham Spanier and apparently there has been no formal appeal from students to include such a phrase in the non-discrimination policy.

The message has been received loud and clear: Students who knock on doors are not heard unless it's in the best interest of Penn State. To Best and others, there's a reason we're out there -- whether it is to speak out or to support those who do. We've asked the questions. Maybe it's time you do too. We have answers.

And regarding women's basketball coach Rene Portland -- Jennifer Harris isn't the first person to come forward, she is just the first person to take it public and to see it through. So why is Portland still here if it's happened before? That, my friends, is the right question.