2008 Woodie Awards
Nooses found, students questioned
1 Story of the Year
By: Alex Piazza
Issue date: 1/7/08 Section: Year in Review
Originally published Nov. 16.
By Alex Piazza
Senior Reporter
Central Michigan University Police questioned students and employees after someone found four hangman nooses inside a classroom Nov. 12, 2007.
A student found the nooses after walking into Engineering and Technology Building Room 228, said Police Chief Stan Dinius.
The student reported the findings to a staff member, who forwarded the information to police at 1:15 p.m. Nov. 12.
"At this time, we have no idea why someone would put them up there," Dinius said. "There are several people who operate in that room. It's an open lab where people can go at any time."
Dinius said the nooses were made of flexible compressed gas lines that are used for laboratory work. Officers have removed the nooses from a cabinet in which they were hanging from and sealed them up for use as evidence.
An air hose valve, underneath the cabinets, around which the nooses were hung from also was removed.
The university sent out a release Nov. 14 regarding the incident.
In a statement released by the university Nov. 15, CMU's high-ranking officials indicated they will not tolerate these types of hateful actions.
"The legacy of discrimination is embodied in those nooses, and it is a legacy that we must aggressively strive to discontinue," the statement said. "We are not in agreement with continuing this legacy of hatred and discrimination and affirm that we have benefited from the courage of those who are willing to ensure fairness and equality for all human beings. We hope everyone will use this despicable occurrence as an opportunity to learn and talk about the importance of inclusion - something most of us know is right and want."
Tony Voisin, director of Student Life, said it is too early to determine any sort of punishment facing those who constructed and hung the nooses.
"Until we know it's targeted at an individual, it's hard to figure out what direction we move," he said. "Certainly, if we found out it was targeted toward an individual, the Code of Conduct could come into effect."
By Alex Piazza
Senior Reporter
Central Michigan University Police questioned students and employees after someone found four hangman nooses inside a classroom Nov. 12, 2007.
A student found the nooses after walking into Engineering and Technology Building Room 228, said Police Chief Stan Dinius.
The student reported the findings to a staff member, who forwarded the information to police at 1:15 p.m. Nov. 12.
"At this time, we have no idea why someone would put them up there," Dinius said. "There are several people who operate in that room. It's an open lab where people can go at any time."
Dinius said the nooses were made of flexible compressed gas lines that are used for laboratory work. Officers have removed the nooses from a cabinet in which they were hanging from and sealed them up for use as evidence.
An air hose valve, underneath the cabinets, around which the nooses were hung from also was removed.
The university sent out a release Nov. 14 regarding the incident.
In a statement released by the university Nov. 15, CMU's high-ranking officials indicated they will not tolerate these types of hateful actions.
"The legacy of discrimination is embodied in those nooses, and it is a legacy that we must aggressively strive to discontinue," the statement said. "We are not in agreement with continuing this legacy of hatred and discrimination and affirm that we have benefited from the courage of those who are willing to ensure fairness and equality for all human beings. We hope everyone will use this despicable occurrence as an opportunity to learn and talk about the importance of inclusion - something most of us know is right and want."
Tony Voisin, director of Student Life, said it is too early to determine any sort of punishment facing those who constructed and hung the nooses.
"Until we know it's targeted at an individual, it's hard to figure out what direction we move," he said. "Certainly, if we found out it was targeted toward an individual, the Code of Conduct could come into effect."
