After staging a sit-in at the university president's office and demanding to speak with administration officials Friday, members of campus activist groups said they are still no closer to fostering a more tolerant diversity climate at Penn State.

Members of SpeakOUT, UnderTones and the Black Caucus organized the demonstration in response to last week's discrimination lawsuit settlement between Penn State officials and former women's basketball player Jen Harris.

Harris filed a lawsuit two years ago against women's basketball coach Rene Portland, Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and Penn State after she was dismissed from the team. She sued for discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender and race. The terms of the lawsuit settlement have not been released.

"It may be a personal victory for Jen, but it's not for the rest of us," Darryl Watson, Black Caucus president, said before the event. "This issue is larger than Jen Harris and Rene Portland and athletics. The settlement just adds to the reality of the unhealthy atmosphere we have on campus."

Penn State spokesman Steve MacCarthy said the university remains committed to "making a safe environment on campus."

"This is something that is absolutely critical to the president," MacCarthy said. "We expend a lot of resources in the areas of non-discrimination and diversity because we think it's very important. If there are problems, we want to hear about it."

A rally was originally planned at the HUB-Robeson Center but was disrupted by a live band playing on the second floor. The activists decided to relocate to Old Main.

"The university would like everyone to believe that this incident of discrimination is an isolated problem. It is not," Christina Swomley, president of SpeakOUT, read from a prepared statement in the office waiting area. "It is, however, further evidence of a systemic problem that has existed at Penn State and will continue to exist as long as students, faculty, staff and administration remain apathetic or resistant to change."

Watson then read his own statement.

"I've learned that there's no place for me on this campus unless I'm in Beaver Stadium holding a mop or holding a ball," he added. "I've learned there's no room for me here at the blue and white -- no black, just white."

A few minutes into the demonstration, Vicki Triponey, vice president for student affairs, and Terrell Jones, vice provost for educational equity, arrived and told the demonstrators to leave.

Watson refused and said he would not leave until meeting with Spanier.

"I have been waiting too long. My friends and family have been waiting too long," he said.

Administrators told the protesters that Spanier was out of town, and they should schedule a meeting with the president to address their grievances. Jones also warned the protesters that if they didn't leave by 5 p.m. they could be arrested for trespassing.

Ten people remained.

"You always talk over us -- always, always, always," a member of the group yelled at the administrators as they walked out the doors.

After sitting in Spanier's office for more than an hour, the group agreed to meet with Triponey and Jones in the HUB. Jones would not allow members of the press to be present for the meeting.

Watson said the groups presented several requests, including the hiring of a full-time diversity advocate, further support and funding for university diversity groups and the creation of an LGBTA special living option.

Penn State currently has a diversity advocate, but the position is part-time.

Watson also said the administration needs to be more open to dialogue with diversity groups.

"I honest-to-god believe that people at Thon don't have the same problems meeting with President Spanier," Watson said. "Penn State needs to be real about its responsibility to its minority students."

The Black Caucus will be holding a rally on Friday at the HUB, which will include another march to Old Main. The group released a statement last week citing its opposition to the proposed senior class gift, which is dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr., Thon and athletics, saying it should be solely be dedicated to King.

University officials have said during the past few months that they have been working to boost minority enrollment, which was one of the group's requests. According to the Penn State Fact Book, Penn State's total minority enrollment has increased 2.1 percent in the past five years to 13 percent in 2006.

"This is an issue that we are very serious about," MacCarthy said. "It's central to the very core of our mission."