The owner of Harvard Square newsstand Nini's Corner yesterday issued a public apology to a Harvard student who alleged he had been racially harassed there last week.

Philip Nini retracted earlier statements about the incident at a morning meeting at the Cambridge Human Rights Commission.

Nini met with the commission's executive director, Margot P. Kosberg, as well as Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III and the student, Richard A. Cole '95.

"[Nini] sincerely apologized to me and the entire Harvard community," said Cole.

Last Wednesday, Cole, a Dudley House affiliate who is Mexican-American, filed a racial harassment complaint with the commission.

Cole said Nini had "exercised selective expulsion" last Tuesday when Nini told Cole to leave the newsstand after Cole had browsed through a magazine for about five minutes.

In an interview last Thursday, Cole said Nini had upset him by repeatedly using Spanish phrases sarcastically when evicting him from the store.

According to Cole, Nini said at one point, "Get the fuck out my store...comprend?"

Both Nini and Cole expressed satisfaction yesterday that the matter was resolved.

"I'm glad it's over with. Thank God," Nini said.

"It's definitely a relief," Cole said.

The student said the meeting had been a constructive one--Nini apologized for his actions and promised not to discriminate in the future.

"After I recounted the situation, he basically apologized for everything he said," Cole said.

"I advised him against his practice of selective expulsion because that opens many doors to claims of racism," Cole added.

In an interview yesterday, Nini said that while the incident was unfortunate, he had not intended to make any reference to Cole's race or ethnicity.