In the wake of last week's settlement between Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland and former Lady Lion Jen Harris, Harris' attorney declared that the case had created "unprecedented" public dialogue.

Numerous media outlets across the country chimed in on the issue, including The New York Times, ESPN and Sports Illustrated.

In fact, it seemed that the only institution not speaking publicly about the issue was Penn State, which refused to release any details about the settlement, even offering no comment on additional steps it would take to protect students from discrimination.

Meanwhile, diversity issues across campus heated up. Former Penn State and NBA basketball player John Amaechi told the world he was gay. Activist Suzanne Pharr spoke to students about homophobia. And to cap off the week, groups like SpeakOUT and Black Caucus staged a demonstration in Old Main demanding answers from a silent administration.

During that demonstration, the groups were threatened with arrest and told they were causing a disturbance, though they were allowed to stay in the building until 5 p.m.

Eventually, Vice President for Student Affairs Vicky Triponey, Vice President for Educational Equity Terrell Jones and Associate Vice President for Student Engagement Felicia McGinty agreed to meet with the groups, as long as no media representatives were present.

The meeting happened, but Black Caucus President Daryll Watson said the university officials discounted the group's requests, including a full-time diversity advocate, a LGBTA special living option and increased funding to various diversity resource centers. Watson said the officials even threatened to end the discussion if questions about the Portland-Harris settlement were pursued.

The question is this: Why would a university that less than a year ago admitted it employs someone who created a "hostile, intimidating and offensive environment" for one of its students feel it unnecessary to concede anything, whether it be answers or diversity-friendly initiatives?

The demands aren't that outlandish. Why not just give the groups what they want?

But Penn State won't. Instead, the university would rather tell the very students who are being harassed that they have no idea how to fix the problems, that they don't understand the issues.

Harris' attorney was correct. This case has caused unprecedented public dialogue. But unprecedented doesn't equate to thorough dialogue.

The university is still hiding behind a feeble defense that it is dedicated to diversity, yet administrators refuse to speak about diversity when the issue matters more than ever on campus.

Penn State is lucky this debate hasn't caused even more ripples, and the fact is, unless Penn State decides to concede something soon -- whether it be information or initiatives -- it will soon end up on the wrong side of history.

But at this point, it may be too late.