Black students might be asked to boycott the Holmes Student Center Bookstore in reaction to an incident last week in which four black students were accused of shoplifting.

Larry Robertson, Student Association minority relations adviser, introduced the proposal at Sunday’s SA senate meeting. He said the boycott would last until a formal apology was given by the management of the bookstore.

He said the bookstore would have to put an advertisement in The Northern Star apologizing for being insensitive to blacks on campus (in order to stop the boycott).

The four students complained of harassment by bookstore employees. One student said a bookstore employee told him, “You people always want attention.”

Robertson said the remarks made by the employee were wrong.

The students are considering filing charges against bookstore employees.

Robertson said, “Something has to be done by minority organizations on campus to communicate to people in the community (about) the insensitivity to minorities.”

He said, “I’m not condoning shoplifting, but for far too long we’ve accepted insensitivity.”

Robertson said the boycott, which was originally proposed by members of the minority relations committee last week, has a strong possibility of effectiveness if the minority organizations work together.

“It (the boycott) could work and be very positive, but it needs support,” Robertson said.

He said the boycott would allow the bookstore to feel the weight of the “black dollar.”

“If 1,100 black students stop buying, the bookstore would get a message,” Robertson said.

The proposal has its bad and good points, Robertson said. If the plan gets support from black students, and if other students get involved, it will make an impact on the bookstore.

However, he said if he does not get total support from black students, the boycott will fail.

The proposed boycott will be discussed further at the minority relations committee meeting on Feb.10.

In other SA business, a motion by Sen. Dave Stern to approve extra expenditures, if necessary, to adequately repair the student center tower was approved by the senate.

Also, SA Mass Transit Board Chairman Phil Kessler said the board will look into the possibility of adding a fourth bus to route three, which serves Greek Row.

The board will discuss the proposal at 5 p.m. today in the student center room 306.