This is in response to "Cutting tensions" (SN 3/23).

Racism, discrimination and harassment are horrible things, and I fully agree that there are a great deal of people who should be educated.

However, with more than 45,000 students and visitors on campus of all ages, races, genders and backgrounds, to say that there are many people who are racist or intolerant is too general.

Contrary to popular belief, East Lansing is an explosion of culture to what seems about 75 percent of campus.

I came from Flint, which I estimate is 60-70 percent black. I did not grow up in nearly the same atmosphere as we find ourselves. I assume most people at MSU come from rural areas or suburbs where they aren't taught intolerance but are left to make their own assumptions about various populations and use culturally derogatory vocabulary in casual conversation.

There also is the fact that there are just ignorant and unintelligent people attending MSU. Some people will never be educated.

But just because someone writes a homophobic message on a dry-erase board doesn't mean that everyone on campus is intolerant and discriminating against each other.

What if, for example, this type of message was written by a gay male heavily inebriated who for some reason found it humorous? Those of us involved with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community all know these kinds of people. Or let's say a black person wrote an offensive racial comment.

I know lots of people who are very intelligent and also culturally accepting but don't make the best behavioral choices to reflect these attributes.

I mean, I don't know if you have read the stall walls in the Music Building lately, but they don't reflect highly on the stereotypically liberal and culturally aware individuals.

I applaud more multicultural education and will be the first in line if possible, but there are those who come from very racist and bigdoted backgrounds and will never attend these functions. There is a lot going on here; I mean I've been to everything from controversial speakers, concerts of every genre, drag shows, fashion type shows of various cultures, etc. We didn't have anything to this degree in Flint.

However, there will always be racism and bigotry regardless of the quantity and quality of education out there.

There are blacks that will always be racist against whites and vice versa. There will always be Christians who are discriminating against Muslims and vice versa. There will always be straight individuals making slanderous comments about the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals and vice versa.

Kyle Jubenville
music education junior