Noose found at UCSD triggers probe and protest

On a campus already facing racial tensions, UC San Diego police said Friday that they were investigating the discovery of a noose hanging from a library bookcase and questioning a student who may be responsible.

The probe will look into whether the noose -- which was seen by some as a symbol of lynching meant to intimidate African Americans on the campus -- was connected to recent racially charged incidents and subsequent protests at UCSD.

On Friday, campus officials said they were questioning a student who had come forward to take some responsibility for the noose, but that they had no additional information to release for the moment. A police statement said authorities were treating the noose, found Thursday night on a seventh-floor bookcase in Geisel Library, as a crime with “intent to terrorize.”

Word about the noose triggered another protest on the campus Friday morning, with about 300 students participating, a campus spokesman said. The school has been roiled since a Feb. 15 off-campus party invited guests to a “Compton Cookout” that mocked Black History Month.

A few days later, a campus satirical group used a derogatory term about African Americans on a campus television show. Those incidents have focused attention on UCSD's low enrollment of black students, who make up about 1.6% of the school’s undergraduates.

-- Larry Gordon

Photo: KTLA

Comments

[Kevin]

Way to go San Diego, setting California back 50 years!

[Den]

UCSD's low enrollment of black students, who make up about 1.6% of the school’s undergraduates.

So? There almost 50% Asian students +30% Mexican discent in this school. Is it descrimination against white colored people?

[NG]

This act is disgusting and shameful beyond words!

[Applicant]

Great... UCSD seems so pleasant. :|

[Vivian]

In a severe economic recession like the one we are facing right now, I am absolutely disgusted that students at UCSD actually have the time and energy to participate in derogatory activities focused upon African Americans. As a college that is one of the most diverse in the nation, a Compton Cookout is what is being held by UCSD students??? I am so ashamed to be an alumni of that campus.

[Willaim]

It's really unfortunate that these types of racially motivated acts are being carried forth at UCSD. I went to UCSD not so long ago and had a great experience, it was a great school with many wonderful people.

[jO MoMMA]

Exaaaaactly, Den. Great math skills. Now get back to being bitter.

[Dave]

WHo really cares? We will all be speaking Mandarin in a few years as we get taken over by China. American kids for over a generation have been ' socially promoted ' and are as dumb as rocks. We are just reaping what we sowed.

[kd]

Sad..upper education?

[Mike]

Relax everybody. The mental dynamics that go into such acts as described in this article are the same mental dynamics all humans have. In other words, the negativity that played out here is the same negativity we all carry in our minds. Though it hardly ever manifests itself in the same form, as in this case, apparent racism, we all have our own personal forms of this hatred.

It's more fruitful for us both collectively and individually to simply acknowledge our own hate and let it go, rather than to see it as only in other people.

Granted, it's easier said then done - to even acknowledge your own hate in you is difficult indeed. But it's so worth it to finally let such a weight go. The benefits to the mind (to yourself) is tremendous!

Cheers.

[John Garcia]

I played baseball at Long Beach State with Blacks, Whites and Latinos and we always joked and kidded around about our skin color with the white guys taking most of the brunt. The Compton Cookout sounds like fun. Kind of when all these white guys have their Cinco de Mayo party and get dressed in the sombreros. I am Mexican American and those parties are harmless and fun. Regarding the noose, like I said before let's find out the facts before we hang someone.

[danie]

For all those "responsible" "living in the real world" adults yesterday who suggested kids are just being kids...see where that attitude got you. I guess this is what you meant by the right to exercise your 1st Amendment? Despicable and shameless!

[Di]

Den: it's difficult to take someone seriously when their spelling and grammar are at the level of a second grader.
Diversity means just that. Having a campus that is 50% Asian does not make it diverse. And the white population at UCSD is way higher than 1.6%. When their enrollment drops to that level, you can start worrying about "discrimination against white colored people."

[Valerie]

Uh, sorry Den (who clearly never went to college), but your statistics are flat out WRONG. The Mexican population only makes up 10% of the student population and Asians are 44%.

[Jack]

As a senior at UCSD, I can tell you from first hand experience that this university is NOT racist.

2008 stats, the undergraduate statistics were

Asian, 44%
Caucasian 27%
Mexican American 10%
African America 2%

This University DOES lack diversity.

The actions of a few MORONS should NOT ruin this institutions name.

[RAUL]

this is not a racist sign, many people over the years have been hung, white, black, brown.....the reason y race is always an issue is because the people that assume that something is racist are racist themselves. take the people that hang a little bear around the tow loop on the back of some cars. is that racist? no!! and if you think it is then YOU are racist. racism will never play a factor if people don't bring it up every time something reminds them of the ignorance that it USED to stand for. so every time you see a trailer...u think of white trash....or a fried chicken place....you think of balck people....etc. etc. everything is racial this and racial that. take it off applications and census crap and everywhere else they put...check which box describes you. and change it to check, HUMAN or NOT HUMAN!!!!! grow up people and move forward QUIT LIVING IN THE PAST!!!!!!

[h]

Well there goes my donations to the UC administration for not expelling the organizers of the party.

Ignorance and hate on a college campus is sad to see.

[Joon]

@kevin, ur a troll, you really think all of San Diego is doing this? why would you believe that a group of people are responsible for this, and not just individuals. Prejudice much??

[Dipavo]

Barely anyone knows that Compton Cookout party was a DVD release party organized by a black man from Compton, Jigaboo Jones. UCSD fraternity members were present at the party and had no intent to threaten black people racially. A few disgruntled people who were not invited squealed to the administration about what was going on, and now we have this full-on race riot. Just goes to show that a few people with bad intentions can destroy a school's reputation within a week.

[noname]

Your numbers are a little skewed there, Den.

See actual numbers here: http://studentresearch.ucsd.edu/sriweb/Profile2008.pdf

[JT]

I am appalled by the racial incidents happening at UCSD. However, the actions of a few racist students does not mean the rest of UCSD discriminates as well.
13% African American students are admitted but only 1.6% chose to go there. It's not the university's fault that African American population is low.

[BOBBA]

DIPAVO. UCSD HAS A REPUTATION? FOR WHAT? NICE WEATHER? THE ONLY "GOOD" THAT HAS COME FROM ANYWHERE IN CA. IS "RIGHT TURN ON RED."

[anteater]

@Dipavo, this was actually made up by a member of the fraternity after the fact.

[jack]

I believe what is going on on campus is awful! There shouldn't be any racism what so ever. As I read the comments I am being offended by how everyone says "mexican" instead of saying "hispanic" or "latino". Not every hispanic is Mexican, there are Salvadoreans, Guatemalans, Ecuadorians and many more. Please get it right and say "hispanic"

[Matt L]

I don't know what's more shameful, the actions of the UCSD students or the comments by John Garcia who thinks that the Compton Cookout is a fun idea or somehow is representative of Black people in the way that wearing a sombrero is representative of Mexican people. What these students did is an affront to anyone with any sense of history and cultural awareness, it is an absolute slap in the face of the few Black students who have busted their butts to get into that school. The fact that the school has done nothing is a sign that the administration is probably afraid of losing the money from the non-Black racist parents who raised the types of insensitive children that would hold this kind of party. This noose is a sign of a much more aggressive, violent and disturbing racism that is usally right behind the more offensive attempt to lampoon and stereotype. Racist jokes are just a cover for racial fears, and racial fears lead to violence. The adminisration needs to clean house - NOW. And maybe offer some spots to kids attending CSU Dominguez, which is near Compton, and those kids can come to campus and dispel a few of these idiotic stereotypes.