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Part of BSU Holds Emergency Meeting Over Racist Bars, November 21, 1988

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BSU Holds Emergency
Meeting Over Racist Bars
NIKKI GAIS
Spectrum Staff Writer

The Black Student Union held
an emergency meeting on W ednes­
day to discuss alleged discrimina­
tory admittance policies by several
of Buffalo's bars.
Several African-American UB
students had approached the BSU
office and expressed that certain
area night-spots have prohibited
minority students from entering the
establishments by utilizing a vari­
ety of methods. They specifically
named Mickey Rats City bar and
Mr. Goodbar.
"These places and others have
purposely scrutinized, harassed,
and attempted to filter out African­
American students from not com­
ing into the bars, solely on the basis·
of their skin color," said Oswaldo
Mestre, BSU president.
Rick Pfeiffer, from WIVB-TV,
elaborated on the purpose of his
month long under-cover investiga­
tive probe into the students' racial
allegations. Part of the assignment
included groups ofAfrican-Ameri­
cans instructed to frequent approxi­
mately ten local discotheques and
observe how they were treated
compared to their white counter­
parts. The volunteers noticed that
they were asked to submit several
forms of identification while the
majority of whites seeking admit­
tance were immediately let in or
asked to present only one form of
identification.
Pfeiffer' s original three part
series that aired a few weeks ago
was presented at the meeting. This;

"These bar
incidents that
have rejected
blacks and
ofher minorities
is about nothing
but overt
racism."
Pamela Jackson

cism," Jackson claimed. "Subtle
racism is becoming louder and we,
as responsible students and citi­
zens of this community must join
and work together to make a state­
ment to implement these necessary
changes. A combination of boy­
cotting, picketing, and legal action
is needed to make a greater differ­
ence."
Students of varying nationali­
ties are encouraged to help develop
a network composed ofindividuals
committed to belonging to a new
Student Coalition Against Racism
in Buffalo, Jackson continued.
Students need to act and react
against the situation to bring about
an apparent change, said Kadra
Small, coordinator of the Student
Coalition Against Racism. We need
to know how many students are
willing to help fight the struggle for
equality, or simply taking time out
of their schedules to picket for a
worthy cause.
The discussion shifted to an open
forum, in which several students in
the audience relayed personal testi­
monies as to their experiences with
racism. It was beneficial for the
students to vent their candid feel­
ings and opinions with others who
have been made the subject of
similar degrading incidences,
Mestre explained.
Small mentioned that the group
is planning to meet again on De­
cember 6 to consider purposes and
functions of the new Student Coa­
lition Against Racism in Buffalo.
The owner of Mickey Rats could
not be reached for comment

BSU Member
in part, sparked this emergency to
occur, Mestre said.
Pfeiffer explained that, "the
series, which included a special
follow-upstorystruckamajornerve
in the Buffalo community. Now it
is up to the people and the local
government to decide exactly what
measures should be taken to handle
and demolish the situation."

Need for action
Pamela Jackson, a BSU mem­
ber, addressed the significance of
an increased awareness, under­
standing, and unifying force be­
tween all UB students. She also
proposed actions that should be
utilized by them to directly combat
the situation.
"These bar incidents that have
rejected blacks and other minori­
ties is about nothing but overt ra-