In her first official statement as Student Body President, Jackie Gonzalez, a junior studying political science, condemned the actions of yet-unknown suspects who hung bananas around nooses on the campus of American University.

The episode at American took place the day after the first black woman to be elected American’s student body president took office. A university police release from American called the act a “hate crime”.

The bananas had what the university called “racist, hateful messages” written on them, including a reference to Harambe, the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla that was shot in May after a child fell into its enclosure, and a message about Alpha Kappa Alpha, a historically black sorority.

In her statement, Gonzalez addressed the act, condemning “hate in any shape or form” and said that it was necessary after such incidents to “stand together as a community.”

“Though, to some, this ‘prank’ might seem harmless, it has struck fear in members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, and the Black community,” Gonzalez said.

The newly inducted SBP of American University, Taylor Dumpson, expressed in a statement that she did not imagine addressing such an incident in her first letter to the student body.

“In my first message to the student body, I would have wanted to talk about accountability, transparency, accessibility, and inclusivity,” Dumpson said. “Now more than ever, we need to make sure that members of our community feel welcomed and above all, safe on this campus.”

A statement from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. expressed “outrage” about the incident and called for a “thorough investigation” to discipline the perpetrators.

“We also urge American University to strengthen the security measures on campus to keep its SGA President, who also is an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority member, other Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority members and African Americans on campus safe,” the statement said. 

Gonzalez told Technician in an email that her administration “will always be working against hate not just for members of the Black community, but to all systematically disadvantaged students.”

In her statement, Gonzalez also included the following NC State resources (including herself):