Over 100 students packed into Alderson Auditorium on the Kansas University campus Wednesday night to voice frustrations about how they think KU’s Student Senate handles multicultural programs and how issues important to students of color aren’t highly represented.

According to its Facebook page, the Senate held the special forum to respond to recent events regarding race and social justice so it could better serve the needs of multicultural students.

Black and other minority students spoke about their experiences and frustrations on campus and voiced a sense of being marginalized by their peers, the university and the Senate itself.

“This campus lacks cultural competency,” said Jameelah Jones, a graduate teaching assistant in African and African-American Studies at KU. “(It’s) like I am some ‘other.'”

Some students voiced concerns about the university’s silence on recent events in Ferguson, Mo., and New York where unarmed black men were killed by police officers and weren’t subsequently indicted. Many said that the silence signifies that the Senate and university are not concerned with issues that directly affect black students and other minorities.

Another point of contention with students was a failed social equity director position — a paid position that would have represented students on social and equity issues on campus.

Senate members were questioned several times on why the position wasn’t funded and said it came down to not wanting to allocate student funds for a muddy description of the roles the social equity director would play to the Senate. When asked about how much fees would have raised if the position had been funded, Senate Treasurer Drew Harger said it would have only raised about 25 cents. Those attending the meeting expressed feelings of disbelief when the amount was revealed to be so low.

“Next time, you need to ask more people to see if it’s worth it,” said Cameron Johnson, a former president of KU’s Black Student Union.

Senate members later went into committee as a whole to propose legislation for a similar position. Student senators passed the bill to create the role of Student Senate Director of Diversity and Inclusion.

During the open forum, students also said they wanted to see the Senate fight for more funding from the university for programs of color. Joshua Robinson, president of the Black Student Union at KU, cited that students pay $75 of student fees for the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center on campus, but only $2 is allocated for the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

“We need programs of color being funded like the rec center,” he said.

The biggest frustration of the evening seemed to be the forum itself. Many said that asking students of color to come to the Senate just made it more comfortable for Senate members. Jones said the Senate needs to visit multicultural groups on campus in their own environments. She also said the Senate would benefit from being more aware of issues affecting students of color whose “voices are constantly missing from the conversation.”

Jeff Vitter, provost and executive vice chancellor, was also in attendance and said he met with multicultural groups on campus, along with KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. He said diversity is a priority at KU, and that he wants students of color to understand that the university isn’t deliberately staying silent about their frustrations or events that may directly affect their communities on campus.

“I don’t want to be silent, and I don’t want you to think we are silent,” Vitter said.

Senate members had little response to the questions fielded to them but said they were excited to talk about the issues expressed.

Miranda Wagner, student body vice president, said the forum wasn’t an ideal situation, but she wanted Senate members to hear what the students had to say and that she was making notes to “move forward” with the discussion.