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(Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania) Lawyers representing a former Penn
State women's basketball player on Monday threatened
to sue the university for defamation if it does not
publicly retract a statement issued Friday by
women’s basketball coach Rene Portland.
The statement,
released by the university's public affairs
department, quotes Portland as saying the charges
that she engaged in discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation are "completely and utterly
untrue."
Jennifer Harris, a 6
foot guard played on Penn State's Lady Lions
basketball team from 2003 to 2005.
Harris alleges that
Portland repeatedly questioned her about her sexual
orientation, repeatedly threatened to kick Harris
off the team if she found out Harris was a lesbian,
and eventually told other players not to associate
with Harris because she believed that Harris was
gay.
In 2005, Coach
Portland abruptly told Harris to find somewhere else
to play. Harris transferred to James Madison
University.
Last week the
National Center for Lesbian Rights sent a letter to
Penn State University President Graham Spanier,
demanding that action be taken against Portland.
On Friday Portland
fired back. (story)
In her statement,
Portland said that Harris had a bad attitude and a
poor work ethic.
"It is unfortunate
that [Harris] has chosen to attack me for her lack
of success at Penn State," Portland said. "However,
her lack of success had everything to do with her
lack of commitment to basketball."
Portland's statement
said Harris was no longer with the team "because of
her performance and attitude in relation to
basketball" and because she "did not meet the level
of commitment" required of players, which includes
game and practice performance, physical conditioning
and academic performance.
"For example, she
engaged in disrespectful, profane and belligerent
behavior toward coaches and teammates, and she
exhibited a work ethic and attitude that were
unsatisfactory and detrimental to the success of our
team," the statement said.
The release of the
statement could derail a move by Penn State
President Graham Spanier. Last week he offered to
meet with Harris’s attorney, NCLR Regional Counsel
Karen Doering.
Spanier said the
school is investigating, calling the
nondiscrimination policy "fundamental to the
principles of our university." (story)
But, a conference
call between the university's lawyers and Doering
that was scheduled for later this week may be
cancelled because of the controversial statement
from Portland, Doering told 365Gay.com.
“It is shocking that an
institution of Penn State’s caliber would respond to
the serious legal issues raised by Ms. Harris not by
investigating her claims, but rather by launching a
malicious and retaliatory public campaign to falsely
smear the reputation of a dedicated young athlete
and student,” said Doering.
The
NCLR gave Penn State until Wednesday to retract the
statement. If that is not done, Doering said, Harris
will abandon attempts to settle out of court "and
will file a lawsuit against Coach Portland and the
University that will include not only her original
discrimination claims, but retaliation and
defamation claims as well."
©365Gay.com 2005
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