Throughout this election season, the mainstream media has been focused on predicting millennial voter turnout and attempting to understand their (supposed) lack of interest in politics and the presidential election. College students in particular have been a demographic of interest and ridicule, often portrayed by the media as politically uninvolved and even apathetic. If any member of the Washington University community had worries that students would not demonstrate their commitment to the political process, this weekend showed just how invested we are in voicing and developing our opinions. From watching the debate our University hosted last night, you would assume we don’t have any opinions.

Even before the infamous security perimeter was constructed and news trucks set up on campus, Wash. U. students turned out in record numbers to register to vote in this election. Over 3,000 undergraduates have registered to vote in this election through an initiative sponsored by the Gephardt Institute, a remarkable statistic for any university. Hundreds of students applied to volunteer for the debate, and those selected dedicated hours in the midst of midterms to prepare and assist the Commission on Presidential Debates and participating media organizations. An incredible amount of student groups, from cultural students’ associations to political interest groups, took initiative to bring dialogue to campus about the issues they cared about.

But the most remarkable events came this weekend, when thousands of students came to campus to interview with national news organizations, camp out at news broadcasts and express their opinions on issues they cared about. Articles about Wash. U. students have poured out on the internet. Students have spoken about the Black Lives Matter movement, the problem of sexual violence on college campuses and the importance of being politically active as a college student. The debate brought out the best in our student community, and we want to commend the administration for creating a forum for students to show how much they care about this election.

However, we cannot say the same about the actual town hall debate hosted last night. When the dust settled, and the candidates had been rushed out of the facility, students were left with little clarity on many issues we care about. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were not forced to talk about pressing problems, like racial tensions within our country and the St. Louis community, sexual violence and gender rights and student debt. Instead, they took questions from older voters on things like health care, the war in Syria and taxes—all crucial questions for voters of any age, but we find it troubling that a debate hosted on and paid for by a college institution failed to demonstrate much interest in the age group occupying that institution.

The questions that the moderators asked never even addressed the Black Lives Matter movement, which regained fire two years ago in this very city. The debate was less than a 20-minute drive from Ferguson, Mo., yet nothing was said about police brutality. There was no opportunity for the candidates to discuss their views on gender rights, which is particularly troubling given the recently released clips of Trump’s remarks regarding Nancy O’Dell. Perhaps most prominently, the debate dealt with the scandals of sexual assault cases but did not deal with the issue as it matters to college women, even though one of four will be victims of sexual assault in their time here.

For months, students have committed themselves to getting involved in the election and making sure they take full advantage of the debate coming to campus. But now, as the debate enters our rearview mirror, it is hard to move on without a bitter taste. We showed that we are ready to become a major voice in the election, and the debate commission, in tandem with the debate moderators and the Gallup organization, responded by brushing aside key issues that stir college political conversations. In a town hall format, this is an egregious misstep, and we hope that, in the future, college students’ concerns and questions will garner more consideration on the national stage.