Noose Prompts Call for NCSU Hate Crimes Policy

Students leaders at North Carolina State University on Wednesday called for a university policy on hate crimes.

The Racism and Hatred Incident Act, which was unanimously approved by the school's student government, came less than a week after a small noose made of toilet paper was found hanging in a campus building.

Campus police found the 10-inch-long noose in a restroom stall in the Sullivan Shops Building on Nov. 8. The building, off Sullivan Drive, is part of the university's motor pool and is accessible only by employees with keys.

The case is under investigation by campus police. The perpetrator could face criminal charges in addition to university discipline.

Student leaders denounced the act of fashioning the noose and leaving it in the restroom as racist and said university administrators should send a stronger message condemning such acts.

In addition to calling for a hate crimes policy at N.C. State, the resolution called for administrators to find better ways to discourage racism on campus and to respond to such incidents. It also called for an independent investigation of the noose incident and criminal prosecution of the perpetrator.