Ten students who say they were the victims of racial profiling when they were asked to leave Meridian Mall last month are trying to solve the problem - without lawsuits.
With the help of campus administrators, student groups and the American Civil Liberties Union, some of the students plan to meet with mall and store officials next week.
The students were asked to leave the Deb Shop in the Okemos mall Oct. 23 while shopping for Fake the Funk 11 outfits. Security guards, store managers and mall employees gave mixed reasons for the request, such as the group was loitering, not shopping, being disruptive and creating a mess in the store.
The students said they were reprimanded by guards without identification and threatened by other guards.
With outfits purchased from Rave and stores outside the mall, the students placed second in the competition.
Deb Shop employees and mall management did not wish to comment.
Advertising junior Marcelle Bryant, who was among the students, said she hopes the meeting will resolve the incident.
But, she would rather see a long-term solution to racial profiling in the area.
“It doesn’t matter if we get this resolved tomorrow and this happens again next week,” she said. “I don’t want my kids to have to go through this.”
Bryant is meeting with the other students to determine what will be on the list of demands for the store and mall. She said she wants the store and mall to create a diversity training program and hire a more diverse staff.
The students also want actual racial profiling incidents to be reported and logged so there will be a more accurate portrayal of how serious a problem it is, she said.
The ACLU has offered legal help to the students, and the Michigan Civil Rights Commission is investigating the case.
Lekan Oguntoyinbo, a spokesman for the commission, said although investigators will continue to analyze the legalities of the incident, they encourage groups to settle matters out of court.
“It moves the case load along much quicker,” Oguntoyinbo said. “A lot of times what happens between the parties doesn’t rise to the level of a crime or a violation of the law. Some do, but some don’t.”
Henry Silverman, president of the Lansing Branch of the ACLU, said he was impressed by how organized and active the students are regarding the cause.
If the students decide to pursue legal action against the store or mall, the ACLU will be there to offer a lawyer and guidance, he said.
“They seem to be ready to move on this,” Silverman said. “I don’t know how far they’ll get with the mall people, but what they’re doing is appropriate.
“If education and a new awareness are all that comes out of this, then I think the students will have accomplished something.”
