RADFORD --- About 30 students and faculty members attended a Radford University rally today to support the school's gay and lesbian community.

The rally was precipitated by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's letter two weeks ago to the state's public colleges and universities directing them to remove sexual orientation from their non-discrimination policies. Five days later, Gov. Bob. McDonnell issued an executive directive that apparently contradicted Cuccinelli.

A similar rally will be held at 12:30 Friday at Virginia Tech near the Graduate Life Center.

At today's rally, students announced their intent to form a new gay-straight alliance for awareness and political action. It would be separate from Spectrum, the more social group on campus. Present were faculty members who will serve as advisers.

Faculty member Moria Baker, director of the women's studies program, announced that she would be introducing a motion today at the Radford University Faculty Senate meeting to support keeping sexual orientation in the nondescrimination policy.

Baker said Radford in 1986 was the first public university in Virginia to include sexual orientation in such policies.