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Local bars get strict with dress codes

Some students denied entrance because of clothing

By Courtney Condron

Friday, September 28, 2007

Dress codes at some local bars are causing improperly dressed students to be denied at the door or asked to leave.

Patrick Cohen, Leawood junior, was asked to leave The Wheel when he showed up on the first game day this season wearing a sleeveless KU shirt.

“I was just trying to be a fan,” Cohen said. “But I understand about certain attire not being allowed.”

Robert Farha, owner of The Wheel, said he would not allow men in with sleeveless shirts or pants that are worn too low. Everyone also has to be wearing shoes, and hats can’t be worn sideways.

“I think it’s disgusting to see guys in tank tops when people are trying to eat food,” Farha said. “It’s a personal rule.”

Brian Crawford, Knoxville, Iowa, senior, said he didn’t have a problem with the dress codes.

“There are obvious reasons why they have them,” Crawford said. “If people don’t like them, they can go to a different bar.”

Zach Owen, Club Axis security manager, said the bar had a sign posted outside and inside the bar with all of the dress code rules, and he wouldn’t let people in who didn’t abide by them. In addition to the same rules as The Wheel, Club Axis doesn’t allow sunglasses, doo-rags, large jewelry, oversized clothing, sweatpants, jerseys, other than University of Kansas jerseys during game days, and several others.

“If people show respect for the bar, they’re less likely to cause a problem,” Owen said.

Owen said he turned someone down at least once every night because of the dress code, and that he had turned down as many as 30 people before.

“Sometimes people get upset, but I just point at the dress code sign, and it’s right there in black and white,” Owen said.

Rachel Seitter, Olathe sophomore, said she didn’t know that bars had dress codes, but that businesses lost money when they kicked others out.

“I guess they just don’t want certain people coming in,” Seitter said. “But people should have enough respect for themselves not to have their underwear hanging out.”

Farha said he had people thank him for asking people to either pull their pants up higher or leave.

“The main thing is image,” Farha said. “I’m just a little old-fashioned.”

There are some bars where the rules aren’t as strict. Quinton’s Bar and Grill doesn’t have a dress code, and Jet Lag’s only rule is that people must be wearing a shirt and shoes.

“We get a variety of people in here, and as long as they behave, they’re fine,” said Cindy Weigel, an assistant manager at Jet Lag.

Other issues for bars are theme parties and holidays, especially Halloween. Owen said Club Axis would be more lenient for Halloween and that as long as he knew about a theme party, he would let them in.

“I’ll make the determination on whether it’s a safety matter,” Owen said. “But if it’s just something funny, then it’s not a problem.”

Farha said that he didn’t allow props such as golf clubs in The Wheel during a theme party as a safety concern. He also said that for Halloween they had to be able to see people’s faces so he didn’t allow masks.

Owen said when people came in with props such as canes he would have people throw them in a corner and get them later.

“We just want to make sure everyone gets home safe,” Owen said.

— Edited by Kaitlyn Syring

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