UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- A group of John Carroll University students took their protest against a university policy to the basketball court this week.

The students were upset that the university would not add sexual orientation as a protected group under its employment policy. The state of Ohio does not recognize sexual orientation as a protected group either.

The students say their concerns go beyond the policy to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Community.

John Carroll University student, Elizabeth Zunica, shared her opinion, and said, "It's more than just changing a policy, but creating an atmosphere in which people feel supported and feel protected and feel welcomed and tolerated and accepted."

Zunica said members of the GLBT community have been harassed and attacked in recent months, but many are afraid to report it.

John Carroll Dean of Students Sherri Crahen said the university's code of conduct and community standards policy covers harassment based on sexual orientation. The University also says they have a hate-free policy in place to protect the rights of all students.

"In the last couple of days I'm hearing the same kinds of things, yet students aren't coming forward, so we need to create a community where students feel safe to come forward if, indeed, those things are happening out there," Crahen explained.

University President Rev. Robert Niehoff sent a letter to the students and faculty. Part of the letter states, "I feel strongly that the John Carroll community would benefit from endorsing a strong community standards statement which calls for fairness and equity in our treatment of GLBT members of the John Carroll community."

It's the one thing this group of students wants, and will continue to fight to get.

"In our classes and a lot of things we hear, we talk about justice and being men and women for others. It's kind of all over and we just want the university to live up to that and have justice here at our university as well," student Andy Trares said.

For the latest on this story, stay with Fox 8 News and FOX8.com