FAIRBANKS -- Members of the gay-straight alliance at the University of Alaska Fairbanks have again asked the Board of Regents to add sexual orientation to the UA nondiscrimination policy.

Tristan Walsh told regents Thursday that the UA system is lagging behind other state universities in its protection of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students and employees.

Regent Kirk Wickersham told the group that the board is committed to dealing with the issue this year, but the search for a new UA president has slowed the process.