Campus police file report on noose incident as possible hate crime

UC San Diego Police have completed their investigation of a female student’s role in hanging a noose in the seventh floor of the Main Library last week, an action that set off a series of campus anti-hate protests on Feb. 26.

The investigation was filed with the San Dieågo City Attorney on Tuesday afternoon as a possible hate crime.

The student, who admitted to police that she had placed a noose on the seventh floor of the library, was suspended from the university on Feb. 26 for her actions. Campus police consulted with the San Diego City Attorney during their as well as with the San Diego County District Attorney and the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding possible criminal charges.

“We promised our campus community that those responsible for recent racial incidents would be punished to the full extent of all applicable laws, and we are following through on that promise,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. “We stand in firm solidarity with our students and will not allow this incident, or any incident, to deter the progress we are making to change and heal our university community.”

UCSD Police Chief Orville King added, “Detectives worked around the clock to complete the investigation as soon as possible. We want the campus community to continue to report any possible hate-related acts.”

Racial tensions first exploded at UCSD after an off-campus party on Presidents Day mocking Black History Month. Shortly after, racially offensive language was reportedly used on a student-run television program, prompting UCSD’s student government body to cut off funding for fee-supported media outlets on campus.

Then on Feb. 25, a noose was found hanging in the library. The student, who admitted to hanging it, subsequently apologized in an anonymous letter published in the UCSD Guardian, a student-run newspaper.

“I know what I did was offensive — regardless of my intentions — I am trying to say I’m sorry,’’ the student wrote. “As a minority student, who sympathizes with the students that have been affected by the recent issues on campus, I am distraught to know that I have unintentionally added to their pain.”

Anyone with information about this incident or others, please call the UC San Diego Police Department at (858) 534-4357.

To assist in keeping the campus and community informed, visit the UC San Diego “Battle Hate” website at

battlehate.ucsd.edu

for details and updates of actions underway.

— Source: UCSD Press release and City News Service