The clubs mentioned above are two of the thirteen groups on ASMSU’s Programming Board that control a fifth of all student tax dollars.

These groups don’t actively discriminate in membership. Anyone from any race is technically allowed to join their groups. The stated purpose of the BSA is commitment “to promoting unity, academic success, cultural and political awareness in order to strengthen and uplift the Black community at Michigan State University.” In other words, its ultimate purpose is to work to the benefit of one particular race at MSU.

Racism is wrong. I do not doubt that racism exists in the world today and that people suffer from it. I do doubt, however, that this is the best way to combat racism. Instead of fighting racism, groups like these further magnify the importance of race in the community. They create divisions along racial lines where they do not need to exist. Groups like these insinuate that people of similar races have something in common no other race can share with them; that similarities only skin deep can more deeply reflect a person’s personality than the god they pray to, the culture they grew up in, the profession they wish to have (or already have) or the political party they vote for. In other words, racial groups try to fight fire with fire, racism with racism.

I am a great supporter of free speech. While I think these groups are wrong, I am not arguing their right to get together, throw events, bring speakers or whatever else they would like to do. What I am against is that they are using student tax dollars for this purpose. These tax dollars are meant for the enrichment of the experience at MSU for everyone associated with the university, not just those who happened to be born with a specific skin color, as is the self-declared purpose of some racial student organizations.

The greatest mistakes and outrages in American history have come from state-sponsored racism: Japanese internment camps, black slavery, Jim Crow laws and harsh treatment of American Indians will forever be blemishes on our country’s history. Why then are our tax dollars going to support racially divisive groups?

It is unfortunate that, in today’s world, diversity is determined to a large extent by race. True diversity is not diversity of skin color, but diversity of thought, lifestyle and culture. It is these kinds of diversity that our student tax dollars should be going toward. To even include race when considering diversity only cheapens true diversity. Student tax dollars should be for the purpose of providing educational possibilities for everyone, regardless of skin color. Eligibility should only be limited by interests and interests alone.

Discussions about culture should be encouraged because they can bring true diversity to a community as well as dispel cultural misinterpretations.

Any person, regardless of race, can associate or be interested in any culture. Currently, people may be discouraged from joining a group that professes to be for another racial group. Additionally, associating a specific culture with being unique and universal among a racial group only furthers stereotypes.

It’s not that I am opposed to discussing race or racism, or even using tax dollars to do so. I only disagree with the method in which this is being done. The best way to do this with a student organization is through an organization that represents no race in particular.

A group that is truly committed to fighting racism would want to represent all races and not discriminate in name or purpose. This would open up the discussion to people who do not associate with any currently represented racial group and would create an integrated group in the place of the segregated groups we have today.

I hope one day the world will be color-blind. The first step to accomplishing this is to make all people equal under the system. This is accomplished by eliminating race as a consideration whenever possible.

Alex Freitag is a State News columnist and political science-pre-law and history senior. Reach him at freitaga@msu.edu.