- Florida man stabs, runs over wife, kills children, then self, investigators say
- Billions of cicadas to ascend in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania
- Man snaps haunting photo at 'The Shining' hotel
- After adoptive mother flees hospital crying, birth mother keeps newborn with defects
- HGTV's 'Love It Or List It' sued
Police opened an investigation Monday after six rainbow-colored nooses were found hanging from a tree at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee.
The nooses sparked outrage on campus because of the implied links to racism and anti-LGBT sentiments. However, multiple students said the display was an art project.
Campus police found the brightly colored ropes organized into the colors of a rainbow near the school's fine arts building around 5 p.m. Monday. University President Alisa White called the nooses “deeply disturbing” in a statement Monday posted on the school's Facebook page.
“Regardless of the intent, the display has no place on our campus,” she said. “I am saddened, and I am sorry for the hurt and offense this has caused and want our students, faculty and staff to know that it will not be tolerated.”
In response, multiple students said the nooses were part of a sculpture class.
A student who declined to be identified told The Leaf-Chronicle that the project was approved by the professor inan introductory sculpture class.
School officials did not immediately respond to the claims.
About the Author
