Purdue University President Mitch Daniels issued a response Tuesday to demands student protesters gave the administration more than a week ago.

In the statement, Daniels reassured students of the university's commitment to a "discrimination-free campus" and announced the immediate creation of a campus safety relations committee to begin meeting in December.

Daniels was not available for further comment.

The statement came in response to a Nov. 13 student protest that drew hundreds of supporters and a Nov. 17 meeting between Daniels and protesters.

At the rally, Purdue students, some of whom are members of the Purdue Social Justice Coalition, read a list of 13 demands aimed at curbing the racial insensitivity they say exists on campus.

The demands included increasing minority students and faculty; more merit and need-based financial assistance for minority students; and a police advisory board consisting of diverse students, faculty and staff.

The campus safety relations committee addresses the students' request for a police advisory board, according to Brian Zink, a Purdue spokesman.

In the statement, Daniels said a majority of the demands were in alignment with the administration's existing plans to increase scholarship funds, recruit underrepresented minority faculty and students and release reports about diversity efforts.

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