California IN BRIEF : SAN JOSE : NAACP Investigates Fast-Food Restaurant

The NAACP is investigating a complaint by a group of black students who say they were denied service at a Denny’s restaurant when they refused to pay a cover charge and to settle their meal bills in advance. A spokeswoman for the restaurant chain said the prepayments were intended to prevent customers from leaving without paying--an ongoing problem at the restaurant when the incident occurred. She denied that any discrimination took place. But Norma Callender, an official with the local National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People, said she was convinced that the 18 black students were singled out “not because they were creating a disturbance or carrying guns, but because of the color of their faces.” She expected the NAACP to decide within a week what action to take. The incident occurred Dec. 30 when the people went to the restaurant at 1 a.m. after attending a symposium to help black students understand what college would be like.