WACO, Texas (AP) - The head of Baylor University says a rope found in a campus tree on Election Day was apparently an abandoned swing - not a noose.
Interim president David Garland says a student spoke to Baylor police, who've been investigating alleged racist incidents on the Waco campus.
The student said he and others tried to make a rope swing the night before the election, in which Barack Obama was chosen the nation's first black president.
Garland says the students strongly deny that the rope was intended to mimic a noose.
Some students who made the swing met with student leaders who were planning a unity march, according to Garland. The meeting organizers understand the Nov. 4 incident "as an unfortunate misunderstanding," the Baylor head adds.
Baylor police also dispelled reports that students burned Obama campaign signs in barbecue pits. They were empty computer boxes, Garland says, not campaign signs.
"While we are all eager to move beyond the events of the past 10 days and the negative light they have cast over our campus, this experience also calls our attention to the challenges that remain before us." Garland stated Thursday. "Relentless pursuit of campus unity is a work to which we must continue to commit ourselves if we are to truly embody our unique calling as a Christian university in the Baptist tradition."
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I saw the rope when it was hanging in the tree, and like I said on the other article, the loop was 2-3ft off the ground and looked a lot more like a swing than a noose. As to the computer boxes, I live near where they were burned. Students have fires in the fire pit at least once or twice a week and roast marshmallows and hang out. It was a normal occurence. The boxes came from the parking garage where I have seen computer boxes stacked before. This is not in any way a cover-up. People just jumped to conclusions and interpreted ordinary events into inflamatory statements.
sj, for the same reason they built the swing, it was a bunch of wild and crazy kids having fun!
why were students burning computer boxes?
bearsrock, thanks for your response but the very same liberals who call Bible-believing Christians closed-minded make us look like minor-leaguers in that area when it comes to matters like this.
I saw the rope, and it was not a noose. I also heard the student speak that made the rope into a swing, and I sincerely believe he was telling the absolute truth. This is not a "coverup" it is just a total misunderstanding and a person who did not intend any harm or offense against another feels bad enough about all the events, so let's just drop it and all work together to make our world unified.
Humanity is plagued with misunderstandings, especially if we're only looking for the worst in people.
I didn't see the "swing" so commenting is a waste.
blue, to be honest Baylor would be right up your alley considering it's one of the more liberal Baptist colleges and has a seminary that is closely aligned with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship who are strongly liberal.
Right. Those college kids nowadays sure love their rope swings.
Give me a break!
Nobody applies to Baylor anymore that wants a good career or knowledgeable respect. Keep the excuses comin'!