One of the agencies investigating the incident in which six black students at Washington University were not admitted into a Chicago nightclub said today that it is taking the allegations of racial discrimination seriously.

“Baggy pants, baseball caps worn backwards and other forms of dress are common across all racial lines and are not indicative of a person’s character,” said Dana Starks, chairman of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, in the statement. “While we are not dismissing the importance of providing safe facilities for patrons of all businesses, discriminatory policies that infringe on the rights of others are not the answer. As a city and as a society, we cannot allow businesses to use questionable dress code policies as a pretext for excluding admission or services to any particular group.”

The statement comes after Washington U. Chancellor Mark Wrighton wrote a letter to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley asking him to investigate this incident.

The students, who were on a senior class trip to Chicago, were denied entry to the Mother’s Nightclub Original because of the bar’s “no baggy pants” policy. But the students believe the real reason was racial discrimination and have filed a number of civil rights complaints about the incident. The bar has said it was a security issue and said it’s conducting its own internal investigation.

The Chicago Commission on Human Relations investigates and adjudicates complaints of discrimination in various realms, including employment, credit, and places of public accommodation such as bars, restaurants and hotels.

The students have also filed complaints with the Justice Department and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.

Washington U. students held a forum last night to talk about the incident. The students are reportedly considering a number of actions, including demanding the bar issue an apology and return the students’ money. The students may announce a plan of action in the next couple of days.

The Grade is the St. Louis region’s premier blog on education and child welfare. To read other recent posts, go to www.stltoday.com/thegrade.