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"Hangman Noose Found on College Campus"
Added: (Tue Dec 23 2003)
Students at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville Tn. received an official email communication from the campus police stating, “that a hangman noose had been observed hanging from a tree in front of the campus bookstore.” However, a group of African American students reported to the African American Student Association that on Sunday they not only saw a noose hanging from a tree near the bookstore, but that there was a second noose laying on the ground near another tree. For the record, it is important to note, that the Clarksville Branch of the NAACP held its annual banquet Saturday night, in the Morgan University Center, which is in close proximity to the trees.
Needless to say, this incident has come as a surprise to many students. After all, our campus is “suppose” to be a safe learning environment and not a playground for hate crimes or jokes. Several non-African American faculty, staff and students have disregarded the “noose” as a mere Halloween prank, but many African American students relate the incident to hundreds of years of slavery, oppression and violence against African Americans and other racial groups. According to historical sources between 1882 and 1968 there were more than 3440 “reported” lynchings of African Americans. Remember, Southern Whites used lynching and other terror tactics to intimidate Blacks into political, social and economic submission.
We the leadership of AASA understand the plight of our ancestors and WE DO NOT TAKE THIS INCIDENT LIGHTLY—AND WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED!!!!!!!
We are aware that our President, Sherry Hoppe has released a statement about the matter on Thursday. However, we think it is too little….too late!!!! The noose is just one more strike against the African American presence on this campus. Since the semester started we have lost an African American faculty member in psychology, sociology and the director of the African American cultural center. The leadership of AASA and the Timbuktu African American Minor Association were excluded from African American Cultural Center Search Committee. Now, African American students are afraid to walk around campus after dark! And people ask why is APSU having problems with retaining African American students!!! AASA is organizing a special day of events in order to remember the BLOOD SWEAT and TEARS of OUR ANCESTORS!!! A day which will hopefully educate all of those individuals who view the “noose” as a mere Halloween prank!