A Penn State professor who is suing the university and faculty members in the College of Medicine for alleged gender discrimination said whatever the outcome of her case, the lawsuit may help other women.

Joan Y. Summy-Long, a professor of pharmacology in the College of Medicine, is suing for an unknown monetary amount because she says other faculty members discriminated against her by refusing her bonuses and other benefits while awarding them to "similarly situated" male faculty members.

Summy-Long said she couldn't comment on the pending lawsuit, which was filed June 6 and listed the university, Penn State President Graham Spanier and eight other faculty members as defendants.

She referred questions to her lawyer, Ira Weinstock, who could not be reached for comment by press time yesterday.

Summy-Long did comment on why the lawsuit was filed, saying it was both for personal reasons and for women's rights as a whole.

She also referred to a common agreement among several senior women faculty members, particularly at the College of Medicine, who she said feel the same way about the alleged discriminatory treatment of women faculty at Penn State.

Penn State filed a formal response to the lawsuit Aug. 14, in which the university denies any prejudicial actions against Summy-Long or any other women faculty members.

Janine Gismondi, an attorney representing Penn State, wrote in an e-mail message that she is unable to comment because of a company policy regarding matters that are still in litigation.

"I can, however, state that the university disputes all of the claims that Dr. Summy-Long has asserted in the litigation," she wrote. "The university's actions and decisions that are at issue in the case were based on legitimate, non-discriminatory factors and Penn State did not engage in unlawful retaliation against Dr. Summy-Long at any time."

While Summy-Long stated in the lawsuit that she exhausted all avenues to address the alleged discrimination through the proper administrative processes, according to court documents, Penn State denies that she used all options available to her.

Also according to court documents, Summy-Long filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania House Relations Commissions and with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

She received the right-to-sue March 6 from the United States Department of Justice.

Penn States said in its response that gender has never been "a determinative factor with respect to [Summy-Long's] compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment."