Approximately 100 students, alumni and community members gathered at the site of the 16th Annual Joseph Korbel School of International Studies Fundraising Dinner on Monday night to protest the awarding of the “Global Service Award” to former President George W. Bush.

Chanting phrases such as “How many people must you kill to get an award from Dean Hill” and “Dean Hill it’s a shame to award Bush in our name,” the protesters emphasized Korbel Dean Christopher Hill’s service as a U.S. ambassador during Bush’s presidency.

Meanwhile, inside the Hyatt Regency downtown, Hill and Bush held a conversation that included discussion of the former president’s work in Africa in front of more than 1,100 guests, according to an official DU media release. An official statement from the university about the award pointed to the dinner, which was closed to members of the media, as an important fundraising event.

“The dinner raises significant resources for the School and its programs,” the statement said. The statement also said Bush was being awarded for his “remarkable work in Africa,” and that Korbel is “honored and delighted” to have him attend the dinner. No mention of the award was made in the official DU media release following the event.

The protesters maintained that Bush should not receive an award from Korbel.

“We are here today because we don’t believe George Bush has committed a global service. We believe he has committed war crimes,” said Sara Fitouri, Sturm College of Law and Korbel student and a member of the Colorado Student Power Alliance, during a press conference held by the protesters. “We’re asking Dean Hill to be responsible to the stakeholders at the university—the students and faculty—and realize that George Bush does not align with DU’s values.”

The Korbel School of International Studies announced on June 23 that Bush would be the recipient of the “Improving the Human Condition Award” at the annual Korbel Dinner. Following the announcement, a Change.org petition was created and gathered 750 signatures in two days. The name of the award was later changed to the “Global Service Award”.

“The Joseph Korbel School of International Studies is committed to serving the public good by presenting multiple points of view and promoting civil discourse among diverse individuals,” an official University statement said. “Accordingly, we welcome speakers and dignitaries from around the globe who have a number of different perspectives.”