JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) -- Members of a student group pushing for specific policy protection for gays and lesbians at Missouri Southern State University said Thursday that they will continue to protest at the central administration building until the nondiscrimination policy includes reference to sexual orientation.

"People in the administration are flat-out denying the problem of discrimination exists," said Ruth Eichinger, a sophomore in biochemistry and president of MSSU's Equality Alliance. "We want a clear response from (MSSU President Bruce Speck) and the Board of Governors that they will address these issues."

What began last week as a sit-in with about 20 students became a rally Thursday with nearly 60 people, including community members, faculty members, alumni and a delegation from Pittsburg (Kan.) State University's Gay-Straight Alliance.

Megan Henry, a former MSSU student, returned to the campus to show her support for the change.

"I'm not here as a student; I'm here as a lesbian," she said. "What's great is that this many people think these issues need to be addressed -- if not for them then for someone they love."

The 22-year-old from Joplin said she took the year off from school for financial reasons. She said she had encountered name-calling and other verbal abuse on a regular basis. She said adding formal protection for sexual orientation would provide gay and lesbian students with an additional measure of security.

"I haven't had a confrontation of such magnitude that I'd place a formal complaint," Henry said. "But really what are they going to do (under the current policy)? I think adding this to the nondiscrimination policy would make it more inviting to know that we'd be taken care of."

Students continue to stage protests demanding that the university's nondiscrimination policy include language that would protect gay students and faculty members after a member of the Board of Governors used an anti-gay slur during a Feb. 20 board retreat while talking about the university's lion mascot logo.

The board member, David Ansley, apologized for the remark several times and later resigned.

The university's faculty senate earlier this week unanimously approved a proposal calling for expressly protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination in the school's hiring policies. That proposal also was sparked by Ansley's remark.

Eichinger, with the Equality Alliance, told the crowd that the sit-ins will become a regular event each Thursday until the university's nondiscrimination policy is changed to provide specific references to sexual orientation.

"We hope to increase our numbers and make allies visible on campus," she said.

Rod Anderson, president of the Board of Governors, said he expects the board to discuss policy issues at its regular meeting March 19.

"We've got some board members who are concerned as well as I am, and we're going to look at it and see what we need to do," he said. "This is in no way a reaction as far as to what's going on. I appreciate their commitment to the issue, but we're going to address it in a studious manner and do what's best for the university."

Speck has repeatedly said he believes the current policy is adequate, in that it complies with all state and federal laws.

During a Feb. 26 interview, Speck told the Globe that administrators have never been presented with any specific complaints of discrimination against gay or lesbian students.

Speck said no one "has availed themselves of those channels" that the university provides for dealing with complaints.

Several Missouri schools -- including the University of Missouri at Columbia and Missouri State University in Springfield -- have sexual orientation included as a protected class in their policies. Pittsburg State University also extends protection to gays and lesbians.

The current policy states that Missouri Southern "does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, creed, color, national origin, disability, or age in its educational programs or activities."