The Syracuse University chapter of the NAACP staged a silent protest on the steps of Hendricks Chapel on Thursday afternoon as a university-sponsored forum on diversity issues took place inside the building.

About 35 students lined the left side of the Hendricks steps holding signs with phrases such as “We exist,” “I am more than just my skin color!!” and “I am not your quota!” The students sat in silence as faculty, staff and other students walked up the steps to enter the forum, which was organized by the university following derogatory comments made by SU women’s soccer player Hanna Strong last month.

Many people stopped to take pictures or read the signs while others sat down and joined the protesters. The NAACP organized the protest to make the point that while these types of conversations happen frequently, real change and concrete action rarely occur, said Kadisha Phillips, the press and publicity chair for the NAACP.

“Something needs to be done. There needs to be institutional changes,” she said. “You’re having a conversation but you’re not doing anything. That is appeasement.”

After the Hanna Strong incident, the president of the NAACP as well as other students sent the administration six suggestions for concrete change. But the students were told that there wasn’t time to discuss the six points, Phillips said.

But this isn’t just a problem with the current administration, Phillips said. NAACP members have talked to many alumni who had similar experiences while they were at SU, she said.

“This is 2014. Why was there (Coming Back Together) weekend and alumni were saying, ‘We were dealing with these same issues when we were here 30 or 40 years ago,’” Phillips said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”