The National Center for Lesbian Rights sent a letter yesterday to Penn State president Graham Spanier demanding a retraction of a statement issued Friday by longtime women's basketball coach Rene Portland, who has been accused of discriminating against -- and eventually dismissing from the team -- former player Jennifer Harris because Portland thought Harris was a lesbian.

In Friday's release, Portland contended that Harris was removed from the team after last season because, "she did not meet the level of commitment I expect from all players to have to this great program."

The release went on to say that Portland removed Harris from the team because Harris' performance in the classroom was unsatisfactory, she engaged in disrespectful and belligerent behavior toward coaches, and the decision had nothing to do with sexual orientation.

NCLR attorney Karen Doering and attorneys for Penn State have a telephone conference scheduled for 12:30 p.m. today to discuss both the fundamental issue of Portland's alleged discrimination toward homosexuals and Friday's media release.

"It is shocking that an institution of Penn State's caliber would respond to the serious legal issue 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," the NCLR said in a release yesterday.

In yesterday's letter to Spanier, the NCLR also claimed that Harris had "approximately a 3.0 GPA" and that she was removed from the team because Portland felt she was a lesbian, even though Harris says she is not.

Representatives of the university wouldn't comment on yesterday's NCLR statement because, they said, Friday's response was Portland's personal response and not that of the university.

"There is nothing for us to respond to," vice president for university relations Steve MacCarthy said. "That statement was Rene Portland's response, not that of the university. Just as every American does, Rene Portland has the right to respond to accusations against them. She did that, but it was a personal release, not the university's."

That is where the NCLR and Penn State disagree, largely because the release in question was sent via e-mail to the media through the Penn State e-mail account of an employee within the university's sports information office.

"There is no question about it, the release was from Penn State, not Rene Portland as an individual," Doering said. "By the release being sent through that e-mail account and funneled through a member of the athletic department, it is clear to everyone that it was Penn State's stand and not just Rene Portland's."