The hot topic at the Black Student Union forum last night addressed the dress code issues at Bowling Green downtown clubs to almost 80 people in attendance.
The problem to many is that downtown clubs seem to be camouflaging their attempts to keep the black community out of the club by stating dress codes that ban “urban gear”–as many club bouncers refer to the dress code.
Uptown, Kamikaze’s, and Skybar are the only clubs that enforce the dress code. Some items banned are; skull caps, wave caps, bandanna, sweatbands, jersey’s, wind-pants, sweatpants, velour suits, excessive jewelry, backpacks, large coats, baseball caps worn correctly and sometimes not at all. But the argument is that this dress code is not used consistently for all people.
Tierney Bates, a staff member of the University, was refused entrance into Skybar for wearing Timberland shoes.
“I watched girls walk in with flip-flops and you’re telling me that it’s more dangerous to wear boots than flip-flops to a club,” he said. “I was offended and felt disrespected.” He encouraged students to share their voices and to think about the image each portrays themselves as.
“It’s a challenge to start thinking outside the box. What do you want to portray? You have to dress like you want to go somewhere,” Bates said. “Start portraying where you want to be now.”
Questions were raised in the confusion of what exactly it is that the clubs want or don’t want. Many people were turned away for wearing white t-shirts.
“Are they scrutinizing us because we are black or for wearing the wrong clothes and that is a safety issue,” Marcus Thomas said, a member of BSU. “They should use metal detectors if that’s the problem because I can’t hide a gun in my dew rag.”
Passion and concerns bounced of the walls as students stood up to voice issues that most don’t understand or even recognize.
“We have to make this a bigger issue and come up with an action plan starting right here,” Jatoya Talley, a member of BSU said.
And they did just that.
They want empowerment through unity.
First the plan calls for a creation of a test committee and executive board. This crew will devise plans to test the bar scenes and dress code as it applies to all people. All observations and confrontations will be documented and prepared for a second committee.
This political committee will have representatives from BSU, NAACP, USG, College Democrats, Black Intellects and the University gospel choir. The group will work to make sure all steps are taken to run smoothly and work towards their goal. A proposal will be created and taken to city officials and news outlets to allow everyone to face this issue.
“Students don’t realize their power of opinion,” BSU President Sharonda Glover said. “We have to utilize our voices so that everyone understands and takes notice of what the black community is facing. We can’t be strong without everyone else, without other organizations.”
