A campus group angry at the university's refusal to discuss its arguments in a discrimination lawsuit against Lady Lions basketball coach Rene Portland will hold a public forum tonight about the issue.

The forum was organized by members of the Penn State Rainbow Roundtable, a group of undergraduate and graduate gay supporters.

On Feb. 11, Portland, Athletic Director Tim Curley and the university supported a motion to dismiss charges of discrimination filed in December by former Lady Lions player Jen Harris, stating, "General, aspirational sentiments and statements of adherence to existing anti-discrimination laws ... do not constitute an enforceable contract."

Ed Rowe, Rainbow Roundtable member, said the forum is the first opportunity for the community to publicly discuss the case.

"Ideally, university officials will be there to listen to how hurt the community is, and they'll find a way to prove their commitment to reinforcing the nondiscrimination policy," he said. "At the very least, the forum will provide an opportunity for members of the community to come together and talk about how it is that we make sure Penn State lives up to its own missions, principles and policies."

Although the forum is open to the public, invitations to attend the forum were extended to university counsel Wendell Courtney and Penn State spokesman Stephen MacCarthy. Both Courtney and MacCarthy declined the invitation.

"It would not be appropriate for me to comment publicly on specific details of the pending federal court litigation that Ms. Jennifer Harris has filed," Courtney said via an e-mail message.

MacCarthy said it is the university's responsibility to refrain from public conversation regarding active litigation.

Rowe said Philip Burlingame, assistant vice president for student affairs, offered to arrange a meeting with a group of students who had expressed concern about the discrimination case. When Rowe requested the meeting be open to the public and the press, the university refused.

"I want to know what the university is afraid to say publicly," Rowe said. "There are a lot of people who have serious concerns about this case, so why are they just extending the invitation to the five or six of us most active in the queer community?"

Eric Patridge, Rainbow Roundtable member, said the forum is a way to educate the community on the "unethical stance" Penn State has taken in the discrimination lawsuit.

Rowe said he expects many students, faculty and community members will attend the forum.

"Based on the reaction I have received so far, my guess is that a lot of people will be in attendance," he said. "There will be good discussion ... and it is a great opportunity for Penn State to clarify its legal position."

Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said he was unaware if any faculty members or administrators would attend the forum.

"If people want to talk about the university's policies, there's nothing wrong with that," he said.

On Wednesday, Penn State released a statement reaffirming its commitment to its nondiscrimination policy.

"The university's commitment to its nondiscrimination policy is firm, solid and in-place, and nothing has changed," MacCarthy said.

Patridge said the statement does not answer the concerns that will be addressed throughout the forum. Rowe added that the statement is "too little, too late."

"Considering the strong wording of the court document that undermines the nondiscrimination policy, this statement that supposedly reaffirms it is weak," Rowe said. "You can't release two public documents that contradict themselves, one filed in court and one posted on a Web site."

Students, faculty and staff also plan to hold a protest in response to the lawsuit Sunday outside of the Bryce Jordan Center before the Lady Lion's last home game. Participants will meet at 1 p.m. at the HUB-Robeson Center, then march to the BJC.