Two ropes with loops, possibly meant to appear as nooses, were discovered hanging on a tree on the Stanford University campus Monday, prompting an investigation by the school’s Department of Public Safety.
In email to students and staff, according to Stanford's student newspaper and the San Francisco Chronicle, school officials said it wasn’t clear whether the cords, found and reported by a student near Campus Dr. and Junipero Serra Blvd. beside the Lake Lagunita walking trail, were meant to represent nooses or were simply abandoned swings or rope ladders.
Officials noted that the ropes appeared to have been attached to the tree for between 18 to 24 months based on the condition of the tree around them.
A noose was also discovered on campus in 2019, and Stanford received heavy criticism for their response after waiting five days to release a statement - which many deemed weak - addressing the incident.
In addition, a recent survey released by the school revealed that, among other disturbing results, 63% of Black respondents had experienced at least one microaggression on campus.
"To be clear, a noose is a potent symbol of anti-Black racism and violence that is completely unacceptable under any circumstances," officials said in Monday’s statement, according to the Chronicle. "We know this is a very difficult communication to receive, and could compound anger and disappointment you may be feeling knowing a noose was reported on campus in summer 2019 and given the discrimination experienced by many Black campus community members as shared in recent survey results."
Officials asked anyone with additional information about the ropes to call the Department of Public Safety at 650-723-9633 or 650-329-2413.
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