New York Local News

NEW YORK (CBS) ― It seems like it's becoming an epidemic.

There was growing outrage Wednesday night after a symbol of hate was found on the campus of Columbia University the day before.

A noose hanging on the door of an African American professor has sparked so much anger at the school. It's the latest in a string of bias crimes in our area.

"Hanging the noose on my door reeks of cowardice and fear on many, many levels," Prof. Madonna Constantine said to thunderous applause.

Constantine, who was greeted Wednesday like Joan of Arc, is a prominent member of the Columbia University Teachers College faculty. It was on her office door Tuesday morning that someone hung a noose. And whether it was a prank or something more, it has sparked a furor on the campus and beyond:

"We're not sure," student Lauren Carel Barnard said. "It could be somebody's stupid idea. It really isn't funny."

State Sen. Bill Perkins, D-Harlem, said there's something very alarming about the image of the noose.

"Understand something about that noose: that noose has replaced the burning cross. It's as if a burning cross was placed on the campus of Columbia University and set afire," Perkins said.

Added Christine Faircloud, a second-year student at the Teachers College: "It's sad that it's, you know, pervasive in these esteemed halls. You know this is Columbia."

Police are being told by people at the Teachers College that Dr. Constantine had a dispute with another professor -- an Indian woman -- who thought she had a right to her spot.

But detectives stress that is speculation on the part of people at Columbia. Police are still trying to find out who put the noose on the office door.

"This is an assault on African Americans and therefore it is an assault on every one of us," President Bollinger said in a statement. "I know I speak on behalf of every member of our communities in condemning this horrible action."

Other school staff members say they were appalled that the incident occurred on school grounds, whether a staff member or someone else is to blame.

"I was astounded. I could not believe this as a university academic -- we teach diversity. We teach liberalism, to accept all types of people," said Rosanne Silberman, a visiting professor. "I was shocked and I am a graduate of Teachers College. I am mortified."


Said Teachers College spokesman Joe Levin: "There are a whole bunch of lunatics out there. I have no idea who does that kind of thing. Certainly it's happened at other institutions, I don't know."

Constantine is said to be a popular psychology and education expert whose books include "Addressing Racism." On Tuesday night, students demonstrated and demanded Columbia do more to stop hate crimes.

"We're willing to strike if we must. That's why the sign is there. We're saying that we're willing to strike if we must -- willing to walk out if we must. We really want the University to respond to the recent hate crimes on the campus," one student said.

"I am a psych student. Her whole program is multiculturalism and so it's shocking," said graduate student Julia Suro.

Added Columbia Professor Xiaodong Lin:

"She's a wonderful person, very warm, very caring, very considerate. I like her a whole lot. I was shocked."

Teachers College President Susan Fuhrman sent an e-mail to students addressing the incident, which read in part: "The TC community and I deplore this hateful act, which violates every Teachers College and societal norm."

The students themselves forwarded the e-mail to one another, putting in the subject line "Jena At Columbia," referring to the racial uproar caused when white students hung nooses outside a school in Jena, La. last year, prompting race-related fights and the arrest of six black teens accused of beating a white classmate.

Now a noose, a symbol of lynching in the old South, has come to New York.

"It's our differences that make us stronger. The person who put the noose on the door doesn't believe that, and that person is wrong. We're right. Look at us. We're all people, all people, all complexions, all beliefs. That's the world," another student said.

Constantine held her head high as she addressed students, saying she's not going to take this lying down.

"I would like the perpetrator to know I will not be silenced," Constantine said. "I will not be silenced."

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