Nooses at Central Michigan University Reflect Rise in U.S. Hate Crimes

MOUNT PLEASANT — The discovery of four nooses in a classroom at Central Michigan University last week has shocked the campus but is only the most recent example of a disturbing increase in reported hate crimes in the state and across the country.

According to a new report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there were 8 percent more hate crimes nationwide in 2006 than in 2005. Michigan saw an increase of 8.6 percent from 2005, from 640 reported hate crimes to 739. Experts said the increase could be tied to the poor economy in the state.

A large percentage of the hate crimes, as reported by Michigan police agencies, fell into the category of “intimidation” according to the online FBI report (http://www.fbi.gov/u…). Of the 739 reported crimes, 249 were intimidation, 132 were simple assault and 129 cases were destruction or vandalism. There were several other smaller crime categories as well. But the FBI warns against ranking states on numbers of reported hate crimes because some states have better surveillance and reporting entities than others.

Continued -Hate crimes like the nooses that have been reported around the country — with their infamous historic connection to lynchings in the South — can have a chilling effect on entire communities, and Central Michigan University is not immune.

Steve Smith, spokesman for CMU, said in a phone interview that the university president, Michael Rao, is “well aware of the fear this type of incident has created.  But we believe we have a very safe campus.”

Smith acknowledged that hate crimes are on the rise nationally, and said the university is working to respond. “We want to call on everybody in the local community and the campus community to come together. … We want to hear ideas. We want to know what we can do that can change what has become a societal ill.”

The noose incident is the third hate-related occurrence on campus since the beginning of the fall semester and the fourth anti-minority episode since last April, when students awoke to find anti-gay graffiti chalked all over the CMU campus. On Oct. 8, an anti-Native American tract was distributed all over campus, and two weeks ago some professors found anti-Muslim tracts that had been pushed  under the doors of their offices.

Smith and CMU Police Chief Stan Dinius said a CMU student who turned himself in Saturday in connection with the noose investigation does not appear to be connected to the other incidents. But the FBI has sent two agents to work with Dinius and his department in the investigation. A third agent has also assisted the investigation. Dinius also said he had a “half dozen” of his officers involved in the investigation.

Dinius refused to release any information about the suspect or to discuss the possible motivation. He said he hoped to have a report to the Isabella County prosecutor by Wednesday but wanted to make sure “all the t’s were crossed and all the i’s dotted.”

In response to the mood on the campus, Dinius warned students not to jump to conclusions and asked concerned students to contact his department and share their concerns.

“I think the whole issue is very scary,” said 19-year-old Ashely Pitts, a sophomore from Detroit. “It really frightened me.”