Acting President Nancy M. Targett discusses the overnight incident and invites the campus community to attend a gathering at 4:30 p.m. on The Green.

To the members of the campus community

UD Police determine incident was not a hate crime

TEXT SIZE

7:12 a.m., Sept. 23, 2015--Nancy M. Targett, acting president of the University of Delaware, has announced that UD Police have determined that the incident reported on Tuesday night was not a hate crime. Below is the text of her message to the campus community.

To the members of the University of Delaware community:

Campus Stories

From graduates, faculty

As it neared time for the processional to open the University of Delaware Commencement ceremonies, graduating students and faculty members shared their feelings about what the event means to them.

Doctoral hooding

It was a day of triumph, cheers and collective relief as more than 160 students from 21 nations participated in the University of Delaware's Doctoral Hooding Convocation held Friday morning on The Green.

Earlier this morning I sent you an email about a student finding what was believed to be three nooses hanging from a tree in front of Mitchell Hall on The Green.  

Thanks to tips from students who responded to our earlier call for information and the investigative work of University of Delaware Police, it has been determined that the three noose-like items found outside Mitchell Hall were not instruments of a hate crime, but the remnants of paper lanterns from an event previously held on The Green.

UD Police Chief Patrick Ogden said, "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." 

At the same time, the sensitivity of our campus to this potential issue clearly indicates a need for continuing dialog within our community. I continue to encourage everyone to join me at the gathering scheduled at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon on The Green.

The safety and inclusiveness of our campus are our top priorities, and we will always act quickly and decisively to respond to concerns of our community.

Sincerely,

Nancy M. Targett

Acting President

 

 

News Media Contact

University of Delaware
Communications and Public Affairs
302-831-NEWS
publicaffairs@udel.edu

UDaily is produced by
Communications and Public Affairs

The Academy Building
105 East Main Street
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716 | USA
Phone: (302) 831-2792
email: publicaffairs@udel.edu
www.udel.edu/cpa