THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505190054
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E12 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TEENSPEAK
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
RETAIL MERCHANTS and salespeople have good reasons to view teenagers with a great deal of suspicion, a group of Green Run High School seniors said.
They've heard peers brag about swiping goods. Some teens, they added, go out of their way to disrespect adults - especially when they want to show off for large groups of friends hanging out at the mall.
``Yes, I think teens are watched more carefully at the malls, but it's teenagers' own fault,'' said Sarah Bagley, 18. ``They brought it on themselves.''
It's unfair, but law-abiding teens are lumped in the same category with their pilfering peers, the group said. In turn, they said, salespeople generally follow teens around stores or try to make their visits short.
``We all get stereotyped as being thieves or shoplifters due to what some individuals did,'' said Jason Esquivel, 18. ``I think it's totally wrong.''
Said 18-year-old Bryan Sullivan: ``I think if store owners are going to look at anybody, they'll look at younger people rather than older people, because they may think the younger person can't afford something or doesn't have a job.''
Teens aren't necessarily more inclined to steal from malls, said Elena Paselio, 17. They may often show up in theft reports because, proportionately, there could be more of them at malls in the first place, she said.
As a group, teenagers are frequent shoppers. They don't buy big-ticket items like washing machines, but their dollars are crucial to many trendy clothing chains, fast-food joints, movie theaters and novelty stores.
Still, they're often dissed by shopkeepers, several students said. And what they're wearing plays a big role.
``My friend and I went to the mall once with a shirt and tie on and everybody was ready to help us. They assumed we had money and everything,'' said Roland Rountree, 17.
``A couple of days later, we went in something else, to the same stores, and they didn't really care about us, and they were watching us,'' said Roland, explaining that he dresses conservatively on some days and more like a gangsta rapper on others.
If teens want adults who run mall stores to view them differently, they need to take charge.
``If we want to change our image, we're going to have to do that ourselves,'' Sarah said. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Senior Roland Rountree, 17, says he hasn't been treated poorly, but
adds, ``I understand why'' others have.
Senior Bryan Sullivan understands why some shopkeepers view teens
suspiciously. ``It's like there's a new wave of disrespect'' among
youths.
by CNB