By Michael Freeman, Managing Editor
UPDATE (Sunday, 5:45 p.m.): Watch an Optimist video on Money’s response to the incident at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJKrU9kR3ZY
A noose was discovered in the office of Student Congress President Daniel Paul Watkins Wednesday, prompting the university to investigate.
Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, addressed the student body on the incident in Friday’s Chapel.
“Whether it was intended to be a thoughtless and insensitive prank or whether there was more serious intent, I see it as an outrageous act, which flies in the face of everything this institution stands for,” Money said.
The hangman’s noose has been used as a racist symbol in the past to invoke the memory of African-American lynchings during the Jim Crow era.
Money spoke for six minutes on the seriousness of the incident and the university’s stance the subject.
“This incident will not be tolerated by the university, regardless of intent,” Money said. “On behalf of ACU as its institutional leader, I condemn the act in the strongest language possible. I am embarrassed by it. Through the misguided act of a single person or small group of people, the reputation of the entire university is put in jeopardy.”
Money went on to applaud Watkins and his handling of the situation.
“He could have chosen to react in any number of ways which are perfectly understandable under the circumstances,” Money said of Watkins. “He said, ‘I am making a choice of how I react to this trial. I must love my neighbor even when they don’t love me.’ This attitude is a testament to his character in that he is so conscientious in his reaction.”
Watkins, a senior political science major from Fredericksburg, Va., has yet to issue an official statement. Watkins did, however, meet with Money; Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president and dean for student life; and other campus leaders Thursday to discuss what actions the university should take in response to the incident.
The ACU Police Department is currently investigating the situation, but as of Friday afternoon, they are without any leads as to who placed the noose in Watkins’ office.
“One of the most unfortunate things about this is the unknown,” said Jimmy Ellison, chief of the ACU Police Department. “Was this just a stupid, bonehead prank? Or was it intended as a threat? We’re going to treat it as an intended threat and investigate it as such. If it was something else, we need to know that.”
The ACU Police Department received a report from Watkins about the noose at 12:55 p.m. Wednesday. The noose was taken in as evidence, and the police department began conducting interviews in order to find information on what happened before the noose was discovered. The Students’ Association office was unlocked before the incident.
“Because it is so hustle and bustle throughout that office, that makes it difficult for anyone to remember anything specific that may have been unusual that day,” Ellison said.
Following Money’s address in Chapel, Thompson prayed for unity and strength for the student body. Steven Moore, associate professor of English, then spoke to the student body before leading it in singing, “The Greatest Command.”
“This is not what we’re about,” Moore said. “We are not about what took place.”
After Chapel, Money addressed local media, reiterating the university’s stance and plan to investigate the matter.
“We have close to 5,000 people on this campus, and I can guarantee you that it doesn’t speak for us,” Money said.
Money could not comment on what the penalty for the perpetrator would be if he or she were apprehended. But he did say that the vice president for student life would handle the penalty.
“I am angered that anyone in our community would treat anyone else in this despicable manner,” Money said. “To that person, I would encourage first and foremost repentance and the asking of forgiveness. Having one person in our midst who has a mind to do such a thing is having one too many.”
Since the motive of the noose remains unknown, the incident cannot be considered a hate crime as of yet. A hate crime is when a perpetrator targets a victim based on the person’s race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, nationality, age or gender. However, hate crimes are not stand-alone offenses; they are enhancements to an offense, Ellison said.
“We would reach out federally to the FBI if we were able to determine that there was some sort of a threat based on hate crimes,” Ellison said. “But we don’t have that yet.”
The noose was an independent item in Watkins’ office. There was no associated threat or effigy on the scene. Nor was the noose left hanging in the office; it was placed in the seat of Watkins’ chair. Nevertheless, the university views it as serious offense and recognizes that the university still has progress to be made in the area of race relations, Money said.
“In the past decades, Abilene Christian has made great strides in racial harmony and equality for all people who come for an education here,” Money said. “Yet at the same time, something like this reminds of how far we have yet to go. So the conversation will continue, and it will be positive and it will be peaceful.”
Money said that so far he has witnessed nothing but support for Watkins from students. Watkins is beginning his first term as Student Congress President, a position he was elected to by the student body last April. Prior to the election, Watkins served as Student Congress Vice President during his junior year and a senator during his sophomore year.
“There were a lot more tears than there were angry voices,” Money said. “Everybody that I talked to is interested in moving toward a solution and improvement.”
