A noose was found at the Union Theological Seminary on Wednesday afternoon in an incident currently being investigated by the NYPD as a hate crime.

Content warning: This article contains content relating to hate crimes, racism, and suicide. 

On Wednesday, April 14, a noose was found hanging in an elevator room from a metal pipe on the roof of McGiffert Hall, a residential building for both UTS students and faculty. In a statement on the UTS website, President Serene Jones shared that the NYPD is investigating this incident as a hate crime and asked the community to share any relevant information they may have, noting that at this time that UTS does not know how long the noose has been in the building or who placed it there. Additionally, she shared that UTS takes campus safety very seriously, and they are actively reviewing safety measures to better secure campus, but that there was no note or other “indication of an explicit continued threat.”

In a statement, President Jones stated that “We are deeply disturbed and devastated by the discovery of a noose on Union’s campus. We have always strived to make Union a welcoming, inclusive, and secure place for all. This racist and threatening act is directly antithetical to those core values.” She also stressed the importance of transparency and speaking out against acts of hate such as this one.

Bwog contacted the NYPD at 10:01 pm EST tonight, and they confirmed the details of the investigation stated above. NYPD also confirmed that a complaint regarding this incident was reported today as part of an ongoing investigation that includes the NYPD’s Hate Crime Taskforce. They also confirmed that no arrests have been made thus far. 

Bwog has contacted Columbia Communications for a statement on this event—we will update this article if and when we receive a comment. If you have information regarding this event, please email us at editors@bwog.com.

We at Bwog express our deepest sympathies to all affected by this hateful action, and we condemn racism in all forms. Mental health resources are provided below if anyone feels inclined to use them at this time.

Columbia Resources:

Counseling and Psychological Services: 5th and 8th Floor Lerner Hall, (212) 854-2878

Live Well | Learn Well: wellbeing.columbia.edu

Office of University Life: universitylife.columbia.edu

Nightline: Call this anonymous peer listening service at 212-854-7777, 10:00 p.m.–3:00 a.m.

Barnard Resources:

Furman Counseling Center: 100 Hewitt Hall, (212) 854-2092

After-hours psychological emergency line: (855) 622-1903

After-hours clinician on-call: (855) 622-1903

International SOS for those students who are abroad can contact +1-215-942-8478

Union Theological Seminary via Flickr