Complaint Causes Boycott of Nini's

Students upset by a classmate's complaint of discrimination against Nini's Corner have launched a boycott of the Harvard Square newsstand.

Accompanied by Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III, Richard A. Cole '95, who is Mexican-American, filed a preliminary complaint against the newsstand with the Cambridge Human Rights Commission Wednesday.

At least one more Hispanic student has lodged a complaint against Nini's Corner since a story about Cole appeared in yesterday's Crimson, according to Margot P. Kosberg, executive director of the Cambridge Human Rights Commission.

Cole, who declined to comment on the matter Wednesday, described in an interview yesterday what happened to him Tuesday when he went to the newsstand to look at magazines.

The student said he had been quietly reading a magazine for five minutes when the newsstand's owner, Philip Nini, rudely told him to leave.

Cole, bewildered, said he asked Nini, "Who me?"

Then, "[Nini] sarcastically said, 'What's the matter, no comprende English?" according to Cole.

But in an interview Wednesday, Nini gave a different account of events.

"He was reading a Billboard magazine for a half hour," Nini said. "I went over and in a nice voice, told him to leave because we only allow a minimum browsing time."

Asking for a Name

Shaken up, Cole said he left the newsstand and sought out a police officer.

The officer told him that the only thing he could do was go back to the store, ask for the employee and his supervisor's names and write a letter of complaint.

Cole said he then re-entered the store and asked for Nini's name.

"He said, 'Hey, get the fuck out of

my store, Comprende?'" according to the student.

Upset at Nini's condescending tone, Cole shot back.

"Of course, I understand," Cole said. "You know that nice institution across the street? I happen to be a senior there, so I understand clearly."

Nini ignored his comment and said, "Look, just get the fuck out," according to Cole. The student then asked for Nini's name again.

"Bobby Orr," Nini said, according to Cole.

Orr was a prominent Boston Bruins hockey player two decades ago, but, at the time, Cole thought that was Nini's real name.

Cole approached two Cambridge police officers, but they rebuffed him and advised the student to "get on his way," Cole said.

Time Discrepancy

After he left, Cole bumped into a friend, Nasreen B. Bulos '97. Bulos said Cole was "extremely upset and shaken."

Both Bulos and Cole disputed Nini's claim that the student browsed through a magazine for a half-hour.

Cole said he left Discount Records shortly before going to the newsstand. He said his receipt from the record store lists the time as--12:24 p.m.

But the student said that by the time he had been to the store twice, approached the two sets of police officers and found Bulos, it was still only 12:45 p.m.

"I saw him at around a quarter of one," Bulos said.

After their conversation, Cole went to Epps' office, where the student arrived at about ten minutes to one.

'We Believe'

Will Rehling '95, a friend from Dudley House, where Cole is co-chair of the house committee, is leading the boycott. He is circulating a petition pledging signers to the boycott and to the statement "We Believe Richard Cole."

"I can tell you as a white male that I've been reading magazines at Nini's for well over a half-hour on numerous occasions, without being told to leave," Rehling said.

Rehling and other friends of Cole, who was a finalist in senior class marshal voting, said the student is generally easy-going. They said Cole would not have complained unless Nini's actions were unusually egregious.

"If anything he's too lenient and too willing to forgive and forget," said Christina M. Gallego '95, a friend of Cole's from cheerleading

my store, Comprende?'" according to the student.

Upset at Nini's condescending tone, Cole shot back.

"Of course, I understand," Cole said. "You know that nice institution across the street? I happen to be a senior there, so I understand clearly."

Nini ignored his comment and said, "Look, just get the fuck out," according to Cole. The student then asked for Nini's name again.

"Bobby Orr," Nini said, according to Cole.

Orr was a prominent Boston Bruins hockey player two decades ago, but, at the time, Cole thought that was Nini's real name.

Cole approached two Cambridge police officers, but they rebuffed him and advised the student to "get on his way," Cole said.

Time Discrepancy

After he left, Cole bumped into a friend, Nasreen B. Bulos '97. Bulos said Cole was "extremely upset and shaken."

Both Bulos and Cole disputed Nini's claim that the student browsed through a magazine for a half-hour.

Cole said he left Discount Records shortly before going to the newsstand. He said his receipt from the record store lists the time as--12:24 p.m.

But the student said that by the time he had been to the store twice, approached the two sets of police officers and found Bulos, it was still only 12:45 p.m.

"I saw him at around a quarter of one," Bulos said.

After their conversation, Cole went to Epps' office, where the student arrived at about ten minutes to one.

'We Believe'

Will Rehling '95, a friend from Dudley House, where Cole is co-chair of the house committee, is leading the boycott. He is circulating a petition pledging signers to the boycott and to the statement "We Believe Richard Cole."

"I can tell you as a white male that I've been reading magazines at Nini's for well over a half-hour on numerous occasions, without being told to leave," Rehling said.

Rehling and other friends of Cole, who was a finalist in senior class marshal voting, said the student is generally easy-going. They said Cole would not have complained unless Nini's actions were unusually egregious.

"If anything he's too lenient and too willing to forgive and forget," said Christina M. Gallego '95, a friend of Cole's from cheerleading