Tuesday, a story about the efforts of the United Way on campus appeared in the Daily. The United Way is an organization that does a lot of good, but before we hand over our donations, we should know exactly what we are supporting.

The United Way of Story county considers the Boy Scouts of America to be an agency partner. The Boy Scouts may claim noble goals, but there is nothing noble in their treatment of gay men. Until they stop their discriminatory practices, they will receive neither my direct support nor my tacit approval through agencies such as the United Way.

The United Way Web site says, “Withholding donations in response to any allocations decision ultimately hurts the people in the donor’s community.” I believe that the Boy Scouts do more harm to my community through their discriminatory practices, and as long as the United Way gives silent approval to this discrimination, they too are doing harm.

It is up to local chapters to decide which groups will receive funding. Many local chapters of the United Way have non-discrimination policies that have caused them to sever ties with the Boy Scouts. The Story county chapter should implement a similar policy to better serve all of the citizens in their community. Until they do so, other worthy charitable organizations will receive the share that I would have given to the United Way.

Matthew BurackAlumnusAmes