University of Delaware students were surprised to find three nooses having in a tree on campus this week.
A hate crime investigation into the nooses was began on Tuesday and was resolved by Wednesday morning when school administrators and authorities determined the nooses were left over decorations used to hold lanterns on the school's green.
.@udelpolice is investigating hate crime. We need to stand together against intolerance. Call 831-2222 if you saw anything. #VoicesOfUDel
— Nancy Targett (@NancyMTargett) September 23, 2015
Update: @UDelPolice determine incident was not a hate crime. Please stand with me on the Green @ 4:30PM #VoicesOfUDel http://t.co/ob7S5NUnPI
— Nancy Targett (@NancyMTargett) September 23, 2015
"We received several reports from students who said they had seen the materials hanging in the tree. I am confident that we have determined the origin of these items," campus police chief Patrick Ogden said in a statement.
The school plans to host a gathering later today to discuss the incident. "The sensitivity of our campus to this potential issue clearly indicates a need for continuing dialog within our community," acting university president Nancy Targett said. "The safety and inclusiveness of our campus are our top priorities."
