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Columbia Professor Could Be To Blame In Noose Case

NEW YORK (CBS) ― The NYPD may be investigating the possibility that a noose found pinned to the door of a black Columbia University professor was left by another school staff member.

Detectives from the NYPD hate crime task force are looking at tapes from cameras outside Columbia's Teachers College, and reports say the shocking discovery may have been part of an inside job stemming from a dispute with another professor.

Constantine told police the other professor, a woman of Indian descent, had replaced her while she was on an extended leave, and grew upset when she returned to reclaim her position.

"There's apparently ill will about that," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation had not been completed.

The official stressed that the dispute was only one possible lead, and that there were no official suspects as of Wednesday morning.

"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 it be a staff member or someone else 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."

Teachers College officials could not confirm if police are in fact investigating their own faculty. They say police are looking at all possibilities. 

"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," said Joe Levine, a spokesman for Teachers College.

Constantine is said to be a popular psychology and education expert whose books include "Addressing Racism." Last nighs, 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.

Another show of support for Constantine is expected by faculty and students later Wednesday afternoon. 

"She's a wonderful person, very warm, very caring, very considerate. I like her a whole lot. I was shocked," said Xiaodong Lin, another Columbia professor.

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," refering 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.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)