'Separate BUT equal... Welcome back to the 50s!' Washington university is slammed for creating segregated dormitory housing exclusively for black students

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A university in Washington State has become the latest institution to create segregated housing exclusively for black students.

The fourth floor of Alma Clark Glass Hall dormitory at Western Washington University in Bellingham is reserved specifically for its 'Black Affinity Housing' program.

It's the latest liberal school to segregate students by race, joining the likes of American University, Stanford University, University of Colorado at Boulder and Cornell University, according to Fox News. 

University officials claim they set up the black-only housing at the request of African American students and student organizations on campus. 

But social media users blasted the university, branding the move 'disgusting' and a step backwards for the university. '

'Segregated housing! Separate but equal. Welcome back to the 50's!' tweeted one person. 

The fourth floor of Alma Clark Glass Hall dormitory (pictured) has now been reserved specifically for its 'Black Affinity Housing program

University officials added that black students and black student organizations on campus had personally requested the option for exclusive housing

In April, the university hosted a webinar claiming that segregated housing gives students 'the opportunity to live in a shared space… with others who have a shared... marginalized identity'

'Western Washington University has turned back time and taking things back to the 1960's & 1970's. Why are all the black politicians not up in arms protesting this?' Brad Peters tweeted.

'OMG, Western Washington University now has a dorm floor for black people only,' commented Kevin King. 

'What's their new moto, segregation now and segregation forever? Disgusting! Students should pick a different school!'

'If black students or any students choose to live together voluntarily, that's fine. But the university shouldn't set aside housing by race,' David Bernstein added.

'A public university should not be allowed to exclude people based on their race.'

Meanwhile, some social media users pointed out the hypocrisy of the university's critics while citing the fact that segregated housing is actually a common occurrence on most college campuses in the forms of Greek housing and exclusive housing for groups such as the LGBTQ community. 

'What's their new moto, segregation now and segregation forever? Disgusting! Students should pick a different school!' one Twitter user commented on the subject

'A public university should not be allowed to exclude people based on their race' another Twitter user commented

'Segregated housing! Separate but equal. Welcome back to the 50's!' tweeted another person

'Western Washington University has turned back time and taking things back to the 1960's & 1970's. Why are all the black politicians not up in arms protesting this?' Brad Peters tweeted

'What’s the difference between this and Greek housing? Which is basically separating housing for White students…' the aptly named Devil's Advocate replied to Bernstein's tweet.

'There is a lot of specialized housing in college for different groups. There is housing for the LBGTQ community, for kids studying business, for athletes, & so now for African-Americans.'

'This is not segregation this is really housing choice to be with your chosen community.' 

The university's Black Affinity Housing program's website states that it was set up to 'explore and celebrate the diversity of Black and African American people and culture, with historical and contemporary context.'

'Western students residing in the program help foster a warm and vibrant community supporting social, personal and academic success.'  

'Black Affinity Housing residents, representing all diverse identities, pride themselves on fostering a sense of belonging for all residents by creating a safe environment for open, honest, and sometimes challenging dialogue,' the website continues. 

In April, the university hosted a webinar to address the subject, claiming that segregated housing affords students 'the opportunity to live in a shared space… with others who have a shared identity, specifically a marginalized identity.'  

Some social media users pointed out the hypocrisy of the university's critics while citing other forms of exclusive housing, like Greek and housing for groups such as the LGBTQ community

'There is a lot of specialized housing in college for different groups. There is housing for the LBGTQ community, for kids studying business, for athletes, & so now for African-Americans'