Student leaders are pushing racism into the student budgets.

At a Student Association meeting Sunday, two groups – the Black Greek Council and the Black Graduate Student Association – requesting student fee support were questioned. No problem. the other eight were asked questions, too.

But wait, those two groups were black organizations. Then again, two of the other eight were black organizations were organizations as well.

Unfortunately, Minority Relations Advisor Belinda Tijerina claimed the BGC and BGS were asked irrelevant questions for budget approvals. Senators were offended by her accusation that the senators “…were getting a high out of asking people these questions.”

owever, the senators in no way are the shining gladiators of this match. Some questions they asked revolved around whether the groups discriminated against students.

Meanwhile, students are left helplessly in the stands to watch their peers argue and spend their money. Student money is not Monopoly money. Students shouldn’t have to put up with these petty squabbles.

Senators need to realize all organizations discriminate in one way or another. Honor societies discriminate against students with low grade point averages. The BGS discriminates against undergraduates. Students in wheelchairs cannot become runners on the Track Club. It’s a fact of life.

Tijerina needs to remember when dollars and cents are up for discussion, questions are bound to be asked about an organization’s purpose. Asking whether a group works in an advisory or disciplinary capacity before giving it money is a perfectly legitimate question. Words don’t cost a dime.

So students are at the mercy of an issue that should have nothing to with their money. The senators were supposedly elected by the students – creating a trust between the constituents and their representatives.

But if that trust is thrown to the wind when irrelevant issues are tossed into the pot, students should worry. That being the case, this semester has been full of worries.

There needs to be a point when student leaders discover their purpose is to serve students. Not just white, black, red, yellow, green or purple students. All students.

Senators should not get it in their heads that they are the knights on galloping horses charging to the rescue for their next door neighbor.

Perhaps this way when racism does become a legitimate issue, it can be dealt with through the combined efforts of level heads.

Too often racism is used as a scare tactic or a security blanket to confuse an issue or protect someone. In order to weed these situations out and into the garbage, student leaders need to start using the brain power that got them their positions.

Instead of equating discrimination with racism or jumping to racism as an explanation for an ignorant question, our peers need to look at the issue at hand. Especially when talking money.

Maybe then senators and student leaders could work together to solve problems. But don’t bank on it.