Dress Code Policy or Racism?
By Amy Perry in News on Oct 23, 2009 7:30PM
Six African American seniors from Washington University in St. Louis filed a civil rights complaint with the Illinois attorney general's office against Mother's Night Club Original bar after allegedly being denied entry to the club. Students claim they were told it was due to their failure to comply with the bar's "baggy jeans" policy; however, white students who had already been admitted came out to demonstrate that their jeans were more "baggy".
One of the students denied admission was Senior Class Treasurer Regis Murayi who helped organize the Chicago class trip for 200 seniors and negotiated a $25 all-you-can-drink package with the bar in advance. Another senior already allowed into the club, traded pants with Murayi and still got back into the club while Murayi was denied. Murayi and his friends even offered to change pants but claims the bar manager still refused entry.
One student claimed that Mother's saw a group of predominantly black men and felt threaten. Bar representatives told the Chicago Tribune that it was security concerns, not racism, that led to their decision to not let the group of men inside and said gang violence was common nearby, pointing out in the security video two men in the group wearing backward ball caps. The students also filed complaints to the Chicago Commission on Human Relations and the U.S. Justice Department. The Anti-Defamation League is drafting a letter on their behalf to Mother's.