LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- The University of Louisville's president and provost have notified students and employees that the school won't penalize Chick-fil-A for its CEO Dan Cathy's comments opposing gay marriage.

A petition has circulated calling on the university to shut down the restaurant's franchise in the college's Student Activities Center. University President James Ramsey and Provost Shirley Willihnganz said earlier the statements on gay marriage were "offensive and unnecessary." A statement sent last week to the university's Office for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Services said Ramsey and Willihnganz "will not be eating at Chick-fil-A anytime soon."

But The Courier-Journal (http://cjky.it/N2Zvhx ) reports that Ramsey and Willihngans said in an email Wednesday that the university values diversity and free speech as well as the right of individuals to choose where to spend money.