Baylor Head Says Tree Rope was Swing, Not Noose

Heather »

Sun Nov 16, 2008 3:27 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

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.

Baptist Leader: Baylor Incident Must Spark Honesty about Racism

Heather »

Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:02 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

People jumped the gun way too fast on this incident at Baylor. I am a Baylor student and I saw the so called "noose" on campus. It was a small rope with a loop in it. The loop was about 2 or 3 feet off the ground. From the moment someone suggested it was a noose it was assumed to be a racial statement and it gained national attention. A student came forward yesterday and admitting to being responsible for the rope. The student and some friends found it in the grass area next to the tree and hung it in the tree as a swing. They left it there with no intention to convey a message of any sort.

As soon as people saw cardboard in the fire pit they assumed it was Obama campaign signs. Early on they were found to be empty computer boxes. Students came forward last week explaining that they were computer boxes they found next to the parking garage. I have seen how empty computer boxes are put by the parking garage and I know that students make fires for smores in that fire pit.

I don't deny that racism exists and I believe these events have sparked good conversation on campus. However, I am saddened that people have gotten such a negative view of our university and we are now considered another example of "racist, hypocritical Christians" all because normal events were rashly interpreted as racial statements.
Attention was drawn to the misinformation but I doubt much attention will be given to truth of the matter. Also no one, including Mr. Young in this article, has acknowledged that Baylor is putting forth all kinds of effort to discuss and resolve racial issues brought up by this incident. There have been campus wide discussion groups, student government/NAACP/Association of Black Students meetings and many groups on campus are planning events and ways to create communication and resolution of racial issues.
I am saddened by this whole incident but I hope that there will be lasting benefits through the discussions and actions students are participating in.