Three hate crimes have been reported on the campus of the University of Wisconsin Parkside in Kenosah over the past several days.
On Wednesday, a noose made of rubber bands hanging in a common area of a dormitory was found by a Black woman student. After the woman reported the incident to university authorities, the next day she received a racially charged note that was left near the door of her dormitory room, accompanied by a second noose.
Later that night, fliers were found at the residence hall. The fliers contained threatening messages directed at particular Black students, racial slurs, and warnings that the Black students would be killed.
The university police department called in seven sheriff’s department detectives to aid them in the investigation.
“At the University of Wisconsin-Parkside we’re proud of the diverse living and learning environment the campus offers our students, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve,” said Chancellor Deborah Ford. “The type of behavior displayed by a very small number of people is not tolerated and will not be tolerated here.”
Update: The fliers threatening Black students were later found to be a hoax. A student admitted that she created the fliers because she was displeased about the university’s response to the initial incidents.
