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Penn State wraps
up investigation of women's basketball coach

Penn State wraps
up investigation of women's basketball coach

Penn State University has concluded its investigation of antigay discrimination complaints filed by a former player against women's basketball coach Rene Portland.

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Penn State University has concluded its investigation of discrimination complaints filed by a former player against women's basketball coach Rene Portland, but school officials didn't release their findings. School president Graham Spanier said Thursday that he had to review the report and discuss the matter with Portland, adding that he hoped "the matter will be concluded by the end of the month."

Personnel matters, including the investigation, are typically kept confidential, "but we will discuss the possibility of some level of public disclosure," Spanier said Thursday in an e-mail.

The school began its investigation in October after former player Jennifer Harris accused Portland of discrimination based on race and sexual orientation. Harris, who is black, left Penn State last spring and transferred last fall to James Madison University in Virginia.

Harris has also filed a federal lawsuit against Portland and the university, contending that Portland wanted Harris to look "more feminine" and that Harris was treated differently because she was perceived to be a lesbian. Harris has said she is not gay.

Portland, who is white, has firmly denied allegations of discrimination and said that Harris's departure was purely related to basketball. It is unclear how the university's probe might affect the federal lawsuit. "It will help reveal what the university knows," said Karen Doering, a lawyer for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who is helping to represent Harris. (AP)

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