DURHAM, N.C., April 2 (UPI) -- A student responsible for hanging a noose from a tree at Duke University, sparking a racial outcry, has come forward, school officials said.
An investigation led by the Duke University Police and Office of Student Affairs resulted in the identification of the student. The student's name has not been revealed in accordance with federal student privacy regulations.
A news release from Duke said the student is no longer on campus.
"The student will be subject to Duke's student conduct process," the statement said. "The university continues to review the circumstances of the incident to determine if additional individuals were involved."
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The noose was discovered hanging in Bryan center plaza on the Durham school's campus, and was removed about 2:45 a.m. Wednesday. Administrators, student leaders and community members condemned the display as a symbol of racism.
"To whomever committed this hateful and stupid act, I just want to say that if your intent was to create fear, it will have the opposite effect," Vice President of Student Affairs Larry Moneta wrote in a statement to Duke's student body. "Be assured that the Duke community will provide all the support necessary to help us all get through this.
"In time, each of these cowardly acts of bias and hatred will strengthen our resolve to love and support each other."
The Duke People of Color Caucus, which formed in the aftermath of a racist chant last month at the University of Oklahoma chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, reacted swiftly to the noose's discovery.
"Please take care of yourselves and each other. This campus is not a safe space, and has proven beyond any doubt that it is a hostile environment for any and all black people," the group posted to a social media profile Wednesday.
Duke President Richard Brodhead told a large gathering of students Wednesday that their presence was a stern rejection of racism and a message to whoever hung the noose that racial hatred will not be tolerated on the Durham campus.
"One person put up that noose, but this is the multitude of people who got together to say that's not the Duke we want," he told the crowd. "That's not the Duke we're here for, and that's not the Duke we're here to create."
Doug G. Ware contributed to this story.
