By Dan Bodden

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Students took the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns to top UK administrators on Monday night.

President Eli Capilouto, Provost Tim Tracy, and Dean of Students Victor Hazard answered both preselected and audience questions in the Student Government Association’s annual Senate Fall Forum at White Hall Classroom Building.

“The purpose is to provide an open forum for students, to kind of create that dialogue,” said Student Body Vice President Jenna Hollinden, a marketing and management senior. “They may have questions to ask to administrators but they may not have the opportunity to do that in a great environment.”

The panel started by addressing questions about the university’s growth, construction and changes since Capilouto arrived at UK four years ago. Capilouto summarized the changes and Tracy spoke about the Strategic Plan for 2015-20, which is how the university plans to improve in five key areas including diversity and inclusivity.

Related: From Alabama to campus, Capilouto feels ‘fortunate’

“There is so much in (the Strategic Plan) that is directly about students,” Tracy said. “I think, as Dean Hazard said, the issues of diversity and inclusivity are all of our responsibility, and students pay as much a part in that as anybody because we all need to work together to make an inclusive environment.”

Other questions addressed a lack of low income housing options. Capilouto answered by emphasizing the recent increase in financial aid and topics ranging from mental health to environmental consciousness, as well as a free speech zone on campus.

Related: New dorm to phase out Kirwan, Blanding low-rises

“I actually kind of felt like they skirted some of the questions and threw out something else,” management freshman and LDP member Alex Francke said. “I only felt that way about a couple questions. I think it was the scholarship one when he was asking how they help accommodate lower income families and he was just like, ‘We are building new things, and it’s all paid for so we’re not going to make you pay for it,’ but it’s like, ‘Ok, but we weren’t expecting to pay for it.’”

One of the audience questions concerned campus parking. Capilouto said the General Assembly did not include a new parking facility in the budget two years ago when it was requested, and UK will have to “look creatively” to finance parking improvements.

“We have got to have something that is holistic and comprehensive,” Capilouto said during the forum. “It can’t be just parking. It’s got to be parking, the mass transit, the walkability, the bicycle access. We’re adding all this stuff but we don’t have the infrastructure that fully supports it.

“We have a plan, but I’m sorry — it’s not going to come overnight. Believe me, we know about it.”

Francke, however, said she wished the panel had spent more time discussing the complex parking problems on campus.

“I thought it was interesting to hear their plan, or lack thereof, on parking,” Francke said. “I know all the places to park, but all the other students who aren’t from here, how would they know that? So I thought they could have done a better job focusing less on … the Student Center and more on the current problems.”

The remainder of questions encompassed a broad spectrum, including inquiries about UK’s private housing and dining partnerships with EdR and Aramark, student support services, scholarships, and the lease on Rupp Arena. There was also a question about why UK does not have a fall break.

Related: Students give feedback about parking on campus

“All the questions from our students are things we care about and want to improve,” Capilouto said. “I feel like I always learn from students — tonight I feel like we’re colleagues in trying to make this a better place.”

The Freshman Leadership Development Program members were required to attend the event, but SGA also advertised the event to the entire student population on social media and with signs and emails. More than 40 questions were submitted online through the SGA website. As an incentive, every student who attended was entered into a drawing to win a free iPad.

“A lot of the questions that came from the crowd were also submitted, so I thought it went really well,” said Noel Ekman, SGA Academic and Student Affairs Chair and an integrated strategic communications senior. “The crowd participation made it really easy and it led to insightful and thought-provoking dialogue.”