It’s the students’ choice whether to spend their money in Bowling Green clubs that some believe have discriminatory dress codes, panel members told students last night.

Owners and managers from Uptown-Downtown and Junction Bar and Grill, along with an attorney from Student Legal Services, answered questions from a room full of students in an open forum hosted by Undergraduate Student Government.

Rodney Fleming, attorney for Student Legal Services, said it’s up to the students to let the club owners know they are unhappy with the dress codes. It’s in the students’ best interest to show the club owners financially not to have a dress code, Fleming said.

Jeff Hobbie, owner of Uptown-Downtown, echoed Fleming in saying it’s the students’ choice what clubs they go to.

“Students are free to go somewhere else. It’s not like they gave to go there,” Hobbie said.

But Hobbie explained that the reason for having the dress code is for safety purposes.

In 1996, Hobbie received a letter from the BG city police informing him of recent gang-related activity in Bowling Green. Police asked Hobbie to take action to prevent more gang activity in the city.

The police asked him to take four steps in particular – to establish a dress code, make the bar 21 years of age and older, search for weapons, and change the format of music played, according to Hobbie.

Hobbie implemented the police’s suggestions for a dress code because a copy of the letter was sent to the Ohio Department of Liquor, which has the ability to revoke the club’s liquor permit.

Hobbie plans to continue using the dress code, despite students’ complains, because eliminating the code could lead to problems in the club.

“I think anytime restrictions are imposed, there’s going to be complaints. But we’re doing this for safety in conjunction with the police,” Hobbie said.

Hobbie emphasized that the dress codes are in place because of a small number of patrons who cause problems in the clubs.

“We [are] talking about a very small percentage that is ruining it for everyone,” Hobbie said.

John Gauld, manager of Junction Bar and Grill, said his club does not have a dress code but expects to implement one if needed.

But there is more to the issue than what students think, Gauld said.

“I think people are looking at this issue just on the surface,” Gauld said.

According to Fleming, the clubs have the legal right to enforce a dress code as long as they are not enforced in a discriminatory manner.

Students questioned why alternative methods are not used to prevent violence.

In response, Hobbie said Uptown-Downtown had metal detectors and wands to detect for weapons for one year in 1996 as the police suggested, but discontinued their use because of the high cost and the time it took to search all of the patrons.

Skybar, the city police, and the mayor declined to attend the forum because of other commitments.

But Aaron Shumaker, USG president, said Skybar has agreed after a meeting on Friday to post their dress code and is willing to have further talks.

After the forum, Aaron Shumaker, USG president, said the dialogue between students and club owners and managers will continue.

Shumaker expects student organizations to have another meeting with city officials and club owners and managers within a few weeks.

Lisa Chalupa, freshman, said what the panelists said had an effect on her view of the dress code.

“What they said really made sense. It definitely changed my opinion of it and made me realize what they have to go through,” Chalupa said.

But Bernard Little, USG vice-president, said he still does not agree with the dress codes because the city no longer has the same problems it did in 1996.

“With changing times we should be able to adjust to that,” Little said

Little agrees with Fleming that students should choose carefully whether to attend clubs with policies they disagree with.

“Hit them where it hurts and that’s in the pocket,” Little said.

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