By Michael Freeman, Managing Editor

A noose was discovered in the office of Student Congress President Daniel Paul Watkins Wednesday, prompting the university to investigate.

Watkins would not comment on the noose, but he met with Dr. Royce Money, president of the university; 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.

“We plan to pursue the matter as a responsible Christian community should,” 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 said he will deliver a prepared statement to the student body in Friday’s Chapel.

UPDATE (Saturday, 12 p.m.): Money delivered a six-minute speech in Chapel Friday, stating that the incident does not represent the university as a whole.

“This is not who we are,” Money said during his statement.

Money also applauded Watkins and his handling of the situation. Watkins has yet to issue an official statement.

After Chapel, Money addressed local media, reiterating the university’s stance and plan to investigate the matter.

Jimmy Ellison, chief of the ACU Police Department, said the campus police are conducting interviews as part of the investigation. As of Friday afternoon, the police had no leads as to who placed the noose in Watkins’ office.

Check back to www.acuoptimist.com Saturday evening for a follow-up story and video of President Money’s reaction to the noose incident.