The noose incident in Sullivan Shops has been widely reported over the last week and a half, even garnering national attention on MSNBC.com. On our campus there have been forums and discussions among students and administrators alike. Last Friday, the African American Student Advisory Council held an open discussion with students and administrators, including Chancellor James Oblinger, on the issue.

At this forum, members of the black community, alongside other groups, were able to directly question administrators about the noose found on Nov. 8, how they responded after the fact, the status of the investigation and what their plans are to move forward.

Emotions ran high, revealing the impact the noose is having on the black community. It appeared there are questions which still lack answers.

Part of the discussion centered on the implications the noose has in the mindset of the community. “Psychological warfare and domestic terrorism” were terms used to describe what the noose symbolizes — historically the noose has symbolized racial oppression and the threat of death.

Regardless of what a noose is crafted from, it’s a symbol of hatred toward a particular group in our society and should not be tolerated.

People of all races on this campus need to be aware of what the noose means. It’s not the coiled rope that holds power, but what it has come to symbolize.

One question the audience raised dealt with who was in possession of the noose after it was found. It traveled from Campus Police to Keith Nichols, director of news services, and to Jose Picart, vice provost for diversity and African American affairs. While the purpose of showing the noose to various groups was to educate the public, it’s unacceptable to present it to the public while there’s potential for an investigation.

Everyone on our campus needs to have discussions about the larger issue of the noose, not just the fact one was found.

Our campus needs to lead the nation and set a standard of how race issues are dealt with. Nooses are popping up all over the country and N.C. State must take a firm stance and develop sound policies stating we will not tolerate this type of action at our University — N.C. State is no place for hate.