The AUSA Senate discussed diversity issues on campus, as well as the search for a new provost, at its meeting last Tuesday. The entire Diversity Committee was present at the meeting to put forward minority concerns and to voice its distress over discrimination and racial profiling on campus.The Diversity Committee consists of representatives from the Black Student Alliance, Hispanic Student Alliance and Native American Student Alliance, as well as other minority members on campus. Several of the members got up and shared experiences of when they were personally discriminated against on campus. Many used the phrase “visible but invisible” to express how they feel as minorities within the DU community. These students said the Diversity Committee wants to alert the entire DU campus of the problems faced by minorities on campus and to raise awareness that minorities are in fact having a tough time. There was also a general dissatisfaction among committee members with Campus Safety, as many stressed that they have been targeted as minorities.Several members shared their negative experiences with Campus Safety and called for the Senate to discuss this matter with them at their next meeting.Theo Chapman, a junior, discussed an incident several weeks ago when he was returning home from class in “a DU sweatshirt and backpack, like any normal student,” when he was confronted by a Campus Safety officer asking him if he attended the university and where he was coming from and going to.In addition, Fawntain Spencer, a senior, stressed that as a minority woman she “does not feel safe because of Campus Safety.”The students would like to see an active investigation on campus regarding racial profiling and discrimination, as well as an overall improvement of the treating of minorities. Freshman Sen. Kelsey Yamasaki requested that representatives from Campus Safety, Housing and Residential Education (HRE), admissions, academics and the Denver Police Department, meet to address these concerns. In other business, Jo Calhoun, the associate provost for academic resources, discussed with the Senate the search for a new provost to fill the vacancy that Chancellor Robert Coombe left open. Calhoun stresses that this is “an extremely powerful position that is just as important as the chancellor.” Calhoun and AUSA Sen. Aaron Schwarzberg are on a committee searching for a new provost, and she shared with the Senate how the committee is conducting the search.According to Calhoun, the committee is looking for someone of a “distinguished academic background” who is “inspirational and innovative” and “focused on financial strategies.”She presented to the Senate four questions regarding personal qualities and future visions of the candidates in order to gather feedback and suggestions.Overall, the Senate stressed the importance of a provost committed to academics and students and willing to advertise in order to boost our national reputation.The Provost Search Committee recommends a candidate to Chancellor Coombe who will make the final decision. The committee hopes to have the position filled by spring.