Student Charged With Felony Hate Crime For Making ‘Noose’; Sparks ‘Hoax’ Theories
"Andrew Smith, 19, found some rope in the elevator in Allen Hall over the weekend and tied it into a noose, Champaign County Assistant State’s Attorney Kristin Alferink said during the arraignment," the Associated Press reported Tuesday. "University spokeswoman Robin Kaler said students in the hall on the Urbana campus reported finding the noose early Sunday."
Reports of the noose exploded online, students taking to social media to post about the incident. Smith became a suspect when another student, whom NBC News describes as "female friend" of Smith's, told authorities that she was with him when he tied the noose.
After he was arrested, Smith admitted that he did tie and hang up the noose, saying he "only spent about 30 seconds thinking about his actions," AP reports. Even after he saw the noose go viral online, he said he didn't think his actions were serious enough to turn himself into authorities.
Smith was charged Tuesday with a felony hate crime and misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges. He pleaded not guilty. He was released on a $5,000 bond and his hearing was scheduled for Oct. 22.
Smith is a math major with a 3.79 GPA and what his attorney says are enough credits to graduate this year.
Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a statement online responding to the incident. "I'm committed to fighting intolerance and bigotry everywhere in our state and building a culture of learning at our universities that serves all students," the governor wrote Tuesday. "Hate has no place in Illinois or in its educational institutions, and I’m glad swift action was taken to address this incident."
Hate has no place in Illinois or in its educational institutions, and I’m glad swift action was taken to address this incident.
I’m committed to fighting intolerance and bigotry everywhere in our state and building a culture of learning at our universities that serves all students.
See Governor JB Pritzker's other Tweets
Since the story began to gain traction online, speculation about the potential motive of the incident took off, with many describing it as a another "hate crime hoax," while some claimed that the student's appearance suggested that he might be "transgender," though no official reports describe the crime as a hoax or identify Smith as transgender.
The incident comes amid heightened racial tensions on campus, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. "In 2016, someone drew three large swastikas at three campus buildings the same year a university employee was fired for tossing a noose down on a table in front of a black employee," the Tribune reports. "Early this year, black employees in the U. of I. system filed a lawsuit saying they were 'exposed to threats of racial violence, such as nooses, swastikas, KKK garb, racist graffiti and confederate flags.' The lawsuit also alleged that university staff members used racial slurs and other racially charged language against black workers."
