Why won’t Columbia University release the noose security video?; Update: Associated Press got it wrong?; Update: NYDailyNews says Columbia “stonewalled;” Update:And now…anti-Semitic graffiti

By Michelle Malkin  •  October 11, 2007 02:59 PM

noose.jpg

Update 7:40pm Eastern. And now…anti-Semitic graffiti found in a Columbia bathroom stall:

Anti-Semitic graffiti was found on a bathroom stall in Lewisohn Hall earlier today, University officials reported. The incident occurred only two days after a noose was found hanging on the door of an African American professor at Teachers College and just over two weeks after Islamophobic graffiti was found in a bathroom stall in the International Affairs Building.

Dare I question the timing?

Must be all those evil racist Minutemen infiltrating campus, right?

Bathroom stalls and racist graffiti. Rings a dubious bell.

Update 6:55pm Eastern. Wow. This story gets ever more interesting. NYDN now reports:

After stonewalling cops for more than 24 hours, Columbia University has agreed to hand over security tapes that could help ID the person who left a hangman’s noose on a black professor’s office door.

The Ivy League school initially told cops they needed a subpoena to get a look at security tapes from Teachers College and the names of students in Professor Madonna Constantine’s classes.

Cops then spent hours putting together the legal paperwork and getting a judge to sign off on the court order around midnight last night, they said.

They were about to serve the subpoena on Columbia when the university flip-flopped – after getting media inquiries – and agreed to hand over 56 hours of tape.

“It’s unfortunate because it adds a time-consuming step to the investigation,” Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said of Columbia’s refusal to assist the investigation voluntarily.

Columbia spokeswoman Diane Dobry refused to answer questions about the delay, issuing a statement that said only: “We are giving the tapes to the police.”

Yup, looks like CYA.

Update: Weird things are afoot. This report says Columbia is giving the tapes over and that the Associated Press was wrong.

AP getting things wrong wouldn’t be surprising.

But CYA from Columbia wouldn’t be surprising, either.

Curiouser and curiouser.

***

I’ve been watching the noose-hanging story unfold at Columbia University with great interest. This does not surprise me:

Columbia University has refused to turn over security videotape that could help identify who hung a noose on a black professor’s office door, police said Thursday.

Investigators began asking on Wednesday for tapes from cameras in the building, but have been rebuffed by administrators, said Paul Browne, the New York Police Department’s top spokesman.

He said police will have to get a court order to force the school to provide video they believe could crack the case.

“It’s unfortunate because it adds a time-consuming step to the investigation,” Browne said.

A Columbia spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment.

Authorities were testing the 4-foot-long twine noose for DNA evidence, but had no suspects as of Thursday morning.

On Wednesday, the professor who was the target of the attack, Madonna Constantine, told hundreds of faculty and students at a rally on the Ivy League campus that the incident was a “blatant act of racism” that “reeks of cowardice and fear.”

“I’m upset that our community has been exposed to such an unbelievably vile incident,” she said.

Police believe the noose was placed on the doorknob of Constantine’s office at Teachers College—Columbia’s graduate school of education—Tuesday morning, when a colleague spotted it and notified authorities.

Police declined to discuss possible motives or suspects.

Will we see a similar outcome as the GWU fake hate crime?

Why else would Columbia refuse to cooperate with law enforcement officers trying to get to the bottom of the case?

Help me out here. Maybe I’m missing something.

Stay tuned.

***

Just to bring you up to speed if you haven’t followed the case:

A black Columbia University professor targeted by a hangman’s noose delivered a defiant message during a protest rally Wednesday: “I will not be silent.” A day after the racist symbol was left dangling on her office door, Madonna Constantine was greeted by raucous cheers of support at Teachers College. “Hanging a noose on my door reeks of cowardice and fear,” said Constantine, who teaches psychology and education and has written on racism. “I want the perpetrator to know I will not be silent.”

…Cops were conducting DNA tests on the noose, a 4-foot length of hand-tied twine. They also planned to question some of Constantine’s colleagues, including Prof. Suniya Luthar. Police sources said Constantine and Luthar crossed swords over a plum assignment at the university, but stressed that Luthar was not a suspect. In May, Constantine filed suit in Manhattan Supreme Court seeking damages of $100,000 from Luthar for defamation.

…Constantine was not at work Tuesday morning when the noose was spotted by Prof. Marie Miville, who called it a “vile act.” Miville ran to get Constantine’s research partner, Derald Wing Sue, who felt his blood boil when he saw what was hanging from his colleague’s door. “I was angry and outraged. I knew immediately what it was all about in terms of racial hatred,” he said. He called security and then phoned Constantine, so she wouldn’t be caught off-guard when she arrived. “All I could hear was this long pause, silence at the end of the phone,” he said.

***
Previous:


GWU’s leftist hoax crime update: What will the administration do?

The left fakes the hate at GWU
Hate crime hoax at Ole Miss
Colleges perfect milieu for hate crime hoaxes
Unhinged: The Mugshot Collection [scroll down to Kerri Dunn]
Another hate crime hoax
Crimes of the phantoms
Tawana Brawley goes to college
Muslim “hate crimes”
Myth of the Muslim hate crime epidemic

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  1. Is the Columbia University Noose Another Fake Crime? » Constitutionally Right
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  4. Hot Air » Blog Archive » What’s going on at Columbia? Update: Columbia turns over the tapes
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Comments


  1. #144238
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:02 pm, Emmychka said:

    Utterly ridiculous. It sickens me to see things like this happen.

  2. #144239
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:03 pm, guitarguy said:

    I think the noose was placed there by either the professor herself, or a co-hort. I don’t think this is racial at all. I think someone just wants to stir up trouble.

  3. #144244
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:04 pm, Emmychka said:

    Either way something happened that people dont’ want the world to see, and will make SOMEONE look bad who shouldn’t look bad. If that makes sense.

  4. #144246
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:05 pm, Tennessee Dave said:

    Columbia University has refused to turn over security videotape that could help identify who hung a noose on a black professor’s office door, police said Thursday.

    This reeks of having something to hide. Isn’t this obstruction of justice or interfering with a police investigation?

  5. #144248
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:07 pm, Boomer said:

    Smells real fishy even all the way out here in Idaho. You think the Administration would instantly provide the surveillance footage to apprehend the perpetrator of this deed.

  6. #144253
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:10 pm, cpodug said:

    It’s only obstruction of justice if you’re not a leftie wingnut. Obviously the left has nothing to hide, they just want to respect the privacy of the perp.

  7. #144254
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:12 pm, Just A Grunt said:

    Wasn’t there an incident at a CA university not too long ago where one of the professors vandalised her own car and then tried to make it a racist issue? I am not sure on the details just seem to recall the incident.

  8. #144256
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:15 pm, Michelle Malkin said:

    Yes, click through all of my background links. The case you’re referring to is Kerri Dunn at Claremont McKenna:

    Here.

  9. #144257
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:15 pm, Red Ted said:

    Could the perp be another African-American? Oops! Sorry for being racist.

  10. #144264
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:20 pm, mojoe said:

    I saw this story and wondered about it from the very beginning.

    It’ll turn out that the professor did it herself and the University will handle it internally.

  11. #144265
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:21 pm, Augustine said:

    Some University administrators may be getting a little nervous, huh? Some things make you go hmmmm.

  12. #144266
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:23 pm, mojoe said:

    Al Sharpton showing up and leading a rally in 3..2..1..

  13. #144270
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:26 pm, Kevin from Ohio in Virginia said:

    Clearly Columbia needs to protect this racist who “reeks of cowardice and fear.” Who else could follow A-Jad on the CU speaking tour?

  14. #144273
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:30 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    The Administration must have looked at the tape by now, so this really smells.

    Now don’t go trying to get the facts Michelle, leave it to “reporters” and “journalists” – besides, you don’t weigh enough. :)

  15. #144276
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:31 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    It’ll turn out that the professor did it herself and the University will handle it internally.

    No, this’ll turn into a “teaching moment”, where the teacher explains she did this to address the on-going issues of racism and biogtry in the nation, that her actions were justified as a means to this end, and that she should not – in any way – be held culpable for what is clearly designed as a stunt.

    There is NO reason the school would not want the tapes released if there was a real perpetrator. NONE WHATSOEVER.

    Their avoiding the issue and hindering the investigation makes me wonder.

    If this is such a horrific case of racism, wouldn’t they want to do everything in their power to find the perpetrator?

    Yes.

    Except that I’m guessing the perpetrator is, as someone said above, the professor herself or a hired lackey co-hort.

  16. #144277
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:33 pm, max said:

    Shades of Tawana Brawley methinks….

  17. #144278
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:33 pm, davidcaskey said:

    I don’t think that anyone should judge until Jessie Jackson and group evaluate the situation along with the NAACP and the black caucus. The people in the north are known to be far more racist than us in the South. Is a march scheduled for this weekend? If not, why?

  18. #144282
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:35 pm, darwin said:

    Virtually every incident like this on campuses across America are manufactured by the left. It’s so obvious it’s an inside job it’s pathetic. Everything is acceptable to the left as a means to an end.

  19. #144283
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:36 pm, chapoutier said:

    Weren’t all you people up in arms about Pace University cooperating with law enforcement regarding a Koran flushing incident?

    I recall many comments arguing that this is an internal affair and the university overreacted in getting the police involved.

    Now you are up in arms because Columbia is trying to handle this (rather similar) incident internally?

    Help me out here. Maybe I am missing something.

  20. #144284
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:36 pm, cpodug said:

    Nothing to see here. Move along, now.

  21. #144287
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:38 pm, BB said:

    Yes, fishy. Until Columbia cooperates, I say nothing happenned at all.

    Suppose Columbia is trying to get over ArmagedonJihad’s invite with a little home-grown race-baiting?

  22. #144289
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:41 pm, BelchSpeak said:

    I predict that when the cops show up with a warrant, the video will not be able to be produced or it will have suffered a “technical glitch” of some sort.

  23. #144291
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:41 pm, ACHefty said:

    Something similar happened here in Jacksonville with the firefighters. Nothing ever came of it because investigators couldn’t get a straight answer from the “victims,” and the accused were all cleared…

    Quite fishy indeed.

    All I have to say is this: If it turns out to be a self-inflicted hoax attempting to stir up racial trouble, then we as a nation need to declare racial integration complete and racial injustices over.

  24. #144292
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:43 pm, mojoe said:

    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:36 pm, chapoutier said:
    “Weren’t all you people up in arms about Pace University cooperating with law enforcement regarding a Koran flushing incident?”

    What exactly do you mean by “…all you people…” Are you addressing me as a white male? Are you saying all we conservatives look alike and you can’t tell one from another?

  25. #144298
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:45 pm, purplepeep said:

    Boomer said:
    You think the Administration would instantly provide the surveillance footage to apprehend the perpetrator of this deed.

    Yup. I’m curious if they even turned the rope over to the authorities.

  26. #144299
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:45 pm, max said:

    Chapoutier # 19, fyi…
    Pace University officials first classified the Quran-toilet incident as vandalism but later referred the case to the NYPD’s hate crimes unit after complaints by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

    I think you are missing something…..

  27. #144304
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:49 pm, purplepeep said:

    davidcaskey said:
    I don’t think that anyone should judge until Jessie Jackson and group evaluate the situation along with the NAACP and the black caucus.

    What? How could you not include the “Reverend” Al to lead a diversity training class to heal the wounds?

  28. #144306
    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:56 pm, Augustine said:

    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:36 pm, chapoutier said:
    Weren’t all you people up in arms about Pace University cooperating with law enforcement regarding a Koran flushing incident?

    Flushing a Koran demonstrates a profound dislike for the tenants and principles of the religion. Hanging a noose on someone’s door explicitly conveys a desire to kill that person.

    The first instance is intolerant. The second is intent to murder.

    I shouldn’t have to explain that.

  29. #144316
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:05 pm, Yashmak said:

    Let’s assume for a moment, that the hypothesis presented here by some is correct; that she hung the noose on her own door, or that some other person wanted it to appear a racist act. . .and the video shows this to be the case.

    If that’s the truth of it, it will allow Constantine to make her report of racism near the front page, while later reports stating what actually happened will be old news, and relegated to the back pages. This is exactly the same sort of thing seen with the GWU ‘hate’ posters. Get the story out the way you want it, and then it no longer really matters if your version is refuted later on.

    For this to be true, whoever at Columbia U is in charge of the tapes would have to be eager to promote the message Constantine is spreading. That should be remembered if this turns out to be another hoax.

  30. #144319
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:08 pm, Yashmak said:

    chapoutier. Flushing a book down a toilet is not a crime, even if some of our leaders would like you to think so. Hanging a noose on someone’s door is a death threat.

    That’s a Grand Canyon sized difference.

  31. #144323
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:09 pm, chapoutier said:

    Flushing a Koran demonstrates a profound dislike for the tenants and principles of the religion. Hanging a noose on someone’s door explicitly conveys a desire to kill that person. The first instance is intolerant. The second is intent to murder.

    They are both meant to intimidate the target audience, period. Whomever did this, and for whatever reason, I think its a huge jump to infer “intent to murder.”

    In all likelihood, as with the Pace case, it was some stupid student who got a bad grade from the professor in question or had done something else to anger the perp. People may think that the police should get involved or that it should be handled internally. All I am saying is to be consistent when the victim of intimidation is black rather than Muslim.

  32. #144328
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:12 pm, Tantor said:

    Waiting to get a court order will only give the good professor more rope with which to hang herself. Undoubtedly she’ll spend the time the dastardly racist which may likely turn out to be herself.

    The approved solution is to scrupulously document everything she says and vigorously agree with her that whoever did this meant to stir up racial hatred and must be prosecuted, even fired if they work for the university. Let us set in motion the boulders of irony to crash down on hypocrisy.

  33. #144329
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:13 pm, Ron Rockstar said:

    When the perpetrator is caught, all he/she needs to do is ensure that they have their “impeach Bush” T-shirt on. Then they can claim it as a free speech issue. At least that is what Nancy Pelosi says.

  34. #144331
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:14 pm, gippergirl said:

    maybe this is CU’s way of hoping the world will forget that it has shared a bed w/a terrorist. I don’t know which is worse, that the hate crime is legit or that it’s a hoax…both are sick. Regardless, I still wish I went to CU for the single reason that I could demand every penny of tuition spent back.

  35. #144333
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:15 pm, chapoutier said:

    What exactly do you mean by “…all you people…” Are you addressing me as a white male? Are you saying all we conservatives look alike and you can’t tell one from another?

    Hah. Yes. All I see is blond hair and blue eyes.

    But I’m not a bigot. I have a conservative friend at work. I call him “bible-beater” and we just laugh and laugh.

  36. #144338
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:16 pm, chapoutier said:

    Flushing a book down a toilet is not a crime

    Not to open this can of worms again, but when you steal it and flush it, then yes it is a crime. Theft and vandalism.

  37. #144339
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:19 pm, Gabe said:

    “I’m upset that our community has been exposed to such an unbelievably vile incident,” she said.

    I bet you anything she did it herself. It shows how little racism there is in America (except by liberals) that they have to manufacture racist acts in order to foment division. It reminds me of the burned Koran incident at Virginia Tech: http://michellemalkin.com/2005/07/05/another-desecrated-koran/

  38. #144346
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:25 pm, Augustine said:

    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:09 pm, chapoutier said: Whomever did this, and for whatever reason, I think its a huge jump to infer “intent to murder.”

    Ok…ok, one wanted to intimidate by destroying a book, the other wanted to intimidate by wishing the person was hanging from a noose.

    Last time I looked, the only purpose for a noose is to KILL or EXECUTE someone. I’ll bet a criminal lawyer would love to make that jump.

  39. #144349
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:25 pm, Yashmak said:

    Not to open this can of worms again, but when you steal it and flush it, then yes it is a crime. Theft and vandalism.

    I can’t believe you’re honestly trying to argue some sort of equivalence between these incidents.

    It makes me feel like I’m talking to someone from another dimension.

  40. #144350
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:26 pm, jeffshultz said:

    Has Al Sharpton shown up yet?

  41. #144351
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:26 pm, xler8bmw said:

    What is happening with our Universities lately……Shouldn’t they all be at a kegger.

  42. #144354
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:27 pm, allrsn said:

    If they are covering up potentional evidence, you have to wonder what their motive is.

    The first thing that came to my mind was that this is a set-up, but then they would just turn the cameras off.

    Maybe, as gabe suggests, the instructor was caught hanging it there herself. Liberals are stupid enough to do things like this on camera.

    Gonna have to wait and see if Michelle can dig up any new information.

  43. #144355
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:28 pm, mojoe said:

    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:15 pm, chapoutier said:

    “Hah. Yes. All I see is blond hair and blue eyes.

    But I’m not a bigot. I have a conservative friend at work. I call him “bible-beater” and we just laugh and laugh.”
    **********************************

    Sure, some of your best friends are conservatives right?

    And if you’re seeing blond hair and blue eyes, you aren’t seeing me. Brown hair and brown eyes, first generation American of Italian descent.

    And I’m not a member of any religion.

    Stereotype much?

  44. #144356
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:28 pm, Cadman said:

    When did A-dad leave again?……

  45. #144357
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:30 pm, allrsn said:

    lol
    potentional = pontenial

  46. #144359
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:31 pm, allrsn said:

    dang it I give up
    make that potential

  47. #144363
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:34 pm, chapoutier said:

    Okay…mojoe, that post was a joke. An, I thought, obvious parody of those wonderful people that say “I’m not racist, I have black friends, but…” and then go on to say incredibly racist things. Just as I thought your “you people” comment was an obvious parody.

  48. #144365
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:38 pm, chapoutier said:

    But back on point, where is there any and I mean ANY proof that this professor herself or the administration did this? That is a pretty serious accusation to be making so flippantly.

    The school does not want to release the tapes, um okay….but rather than go for the simple answer of Columbia trying to protect one of its own students/faculty/staff from criminal investigation (however misguided that desire may be), some here (not you people btw) are inventing paranoid fantasies.

  49. #144369
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:41 pm, feebiebabe said:

    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:26 pm, xler8bmw said:
    What is happening with our Universities lately……Shouldn’t they all be at a kegger.

    Sorry, they are all too busy drinking the kool-aid.

  50. #144373
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:44 pm, Outlander said:

    Some people have commented that FERPA bars Columbia from disclosing the videotape without a court order. While I am a lawyer, I don’t do educational law, so I’m taking a real stab in the dark here… However, I don’t think FERPA bars disclosure of this video.

    1. It looks like 20 U.S.C. 1232g(b)(1)(J)(ii) and 20 U.S.C. 1232(g)(b)(2)permits disclosure of records in response to a subpoena; and

    2. 20 U.S.C. 1232g(a)(4)(B)(ii) excludes “records maintained by a law enforcement unit of the educational agency,” which might include video surveillance equipment in the building.

    If Columbia is resisting a subpoena, that’s ridiculous–and unfortunate. But again, I don’t do educational law, so take my half-grained opinions with a healthy grain of salt.

  51. #144375
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:47 pm, mojojojo said:

    $50 says the tape will end up in Sandy Burglar’s socks.

  52. #144380
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:52 pm, mojo said:

    Sounds like somebody wasn’t up to date on the placement of security cams, don’t it? Highly embarrassing footage requiring protection? Tsk tsk…

  53. #144381
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:52 pm, feebiebabe said:

    So as not to give chapoutier a coronary, i’ll refrain from making any obvious assumptions…although, I do smell a stinky rat!!!!

  54. #144384
    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:56 pm, AlturaCt said:

    Don’t forget this little gem from several weeks ago.

    Anoka Police investigating hate crime

    http://www.kare11.com/news/ts_article.aspx?storyid=266037

    Anoka Man In Jail After Faking Hate Crime

    http://www.topix.com/county/hennepin-mn/2007/09/anoka-man-in-jail-after-faking-hate-crime

  55. #144391
    On October 11th, 2007 at 5:02 pm, Cadman said:

    $50 says the tape will end up in Sandy Burglar’s socks.

    Don’t be ridiculous, it will be found in William Jefferson’s freezer.

  56. #144392
    On October 11th, 2007 at 5:04 pm, purplepeep said:

    AlturaCt said:
    Don’t forget this little gem from several weeks ago.

    More info on that story, AlturaCt, from (amazingly) the Minneapolis StarTribune:

    ‘Victim’ of cross burning in Anoka now faces charges

  57. #144398
    On October 11th, 2007 at 5:16 pm, sfrvn said:

    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:36 pm, cpodug said:
    Nothing to see here. Move along, now.

    No, Chief – that should be “Move On.”

  58. #144399
    On October 11th, 2007 at 5:16 pm, bear1909 said:

    Chapoutier- I raised the question in the “Koran-Toilet Storage” case at Pace.

    Why did Pace call in outside law enforcement? Why was the student’s behavior labeled a criminal matter subject to state investigation?

    I wasn’t in an uproar over it. Maybe others were, but I wasn’t.

    Once the University calls in outside law enforcement the University admin and all of its students become subject to the investigation by outside authorities.

    I am surprised the University has not conducted its own preliminary investigation FIRST to assess the scope of wrongdoing and to make a systematic determination of involvements.

    Seems like that is what less sensationalist administrators do.

    This smells like a set up. Too neat. Too accessible. More nooses. KInd of a copy cat flava too it.

    Professor is being publically outspoken and “brave” about it.

    Stinky.

  59. #144402
    On October 11th, 2007 at 5:18 pm, yt1300inHtown said:

    On October 11th, 2007 at 3:33 pm, davidcaskey said:Is a march scheduled for this weekend? If not, why?

    Uhhh…the weekend is for par-tays! March during the week so you can miss work…if you gots a job.

    That’s like rule #1 in the oppressed handbook.

  60. #144405
    On October 11th, 2007 at 5:19 pm, vermontaigne said:

    I bet it was that Ahmadinejad guy.

  61. #144418
    On October 11th, 2007 at 5:46 pm, James Felix said:

    The school does not want to release the tapes, um okay….but rather than go for the simple answer of Columbia trying to protect one of its own students/faculty/staff from criminal investigation (however misguided that desire may be), some here (not you people btw) are inventing paranoid fantasies

    Um…

    Columbia trying to protect one of its own, what you call a simple answer, is the “paranoid fantasy” we’re inventing.

    And several people here have asked for a plausable alternate theory. Do you by any chance have one?

    Also, just FYI, it wasn’t Pace cooperating with authorities that we found objectionable. It was treating a clear case of petty larceny as a hate crime in order to appease the likes of CAIR. As so often happens, a liberal in search of a “gotcha!” moment is comparing apples and oranges.

  62. #144424
    On October 11th, 2007 at 5:56 pm, Ringo the Gringo said:

    Let’s not forget Kerri Dunn:

    Kerri Dunn was a visiting psychology professor at Claremont McKenna College, who was convicted of perpetrating a hoax, in which she defaced her own car, by slashing its tires, breaking its windows, and spray painting several phrases containing ethnic slurs and a partial swastika, on the doors and hood of the car. She was also found guilty of filing a false police report and accused by the prosecutor of filing a false insurance claim on her car.

    Additional Link.

  63. #144433
    On October 11th, 2007 at 6:04 pm, Milwaukee Mike said:

    The story fits the template for MSM hype, but this bit of news doesn’t pass their smell test.

    I believe silence will fall on this incident and we will not hear any more.

  64. #144434
    On October 11th, 2007 at 6:11 pm, Yashmak said:

    That is a pretty serious accusation to be making so flippantly.

    – chapoutier

    A reasonable hypothesis does not an accusation make. Recent incidents have led many here, myself included, to regard such happenings as this with a skeptics eye. It’s much the same as wagering on the outcome of a football game, except the only thing we win is the ability to say “told ya so”. . . .which is scant compensation when we see stuff like this happening repeatedly across our nation.

  65. #144441
    On October 11th, 2007 at 6:30 pm, chapoutier said:

    To James Felix:

    It was not petty larceny. The guy stole the Koran and put it in a toilet as a clear message of hate toward a particular group. The student admitted as such. Hmmm…sounds somewhat analogous.

    To Yashmak: Recent incidents? Oh you mean the few instances of sad, silly people that fake such things that MM has culled from the probably hundreds, if not thousands, of REAL instances of hate crimes and intimidation being committed?

    Do we jump to the conclusion that any woman that accuses a man of rape is lying because of the regretable few that lie? Of course not. We demand proof, mind you, but we do not automatically assume she is lying. Or at least I don’t.

    There has been not one shred of evidence presented here that this incident was fabricated. A reasonable hypothesis requires fact. What is being presented here is wild speculation. I suspect the only reason people are jumping on it is because it happened at Columbia, which has attracted this group’s ire recently.

  66. #144451
    On October 11th, 2007 at 6:46 pm, BrianNY said:

    I came into political awareness in 1987, around the time Alfred Sharpton was peddling his Tawana Brawley hoax.

    It’s a shame that: during this age of phony Duke rape cases, GWU, and all of the fake-campus-racism charges that Michelle has documented over the years… rational people are forced to be skeptical about this recent Columbia incident before all of the evidence is in. Columbia’s initial refusal to release video tape and their non-compliance with NYPD detectives throws even more fuel on the fires of skepticism.

    “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” and “Fool Me Once, Fool Me Twice” initially come to mind, but I am sure Michelle will get to the truth of this story, as she always does.

    Hey Michelle, onward my friend. Just make sure you can solve this one without having to visit the Columbia crime scene, lest the libs accuse you of “stalking” again.

  67. #144457
    On October 11th, 2007 at 7:08 pm, Yashmak said:

    Let’s see if this suits you better chapoutier, and draws you back to an actual response to my last comment.

    Wild speculation does not an accusation make. However, there does exist circumstantial evidence that there’s something shady going on here. . .the University’s refusal to provide the security tape. Why wouldn’t they?

    Maybe someone can provide a good reason. If not, I’ll continue to believe that my hypothesis is reasonable, and not ‘wild speculation’.

    Sure, there are real hate crimes, and there are things we call “hate crimes” which I don’t think really qualify. But that’s beside the point. The only honest to god accusation that’s been made so far, has been the one that a hate crime HAS been committed. Should we not question that statement? If a suspect is found, should we then assume his/her guilt?

    All this could be settled by those security tapes in an instant.

  68. #144459
    On October 11th, 2007 at 7:09 pm, BrianNY said:

    chapoutier said:

    To Yashmak: Recent incidents? Oh you mean the few instances of sad, silly people that fake such things that MM has culled from the probably hundreds, if not thousands, of REAL instances of hate crimes and intimidation being committed?

    Probably? Probably? OK, chapoutier, I’ll play your game. How about…ohhh…”the few instances of sad, silly people that fake such things that MM has culled from the” PROBABLY hundreds, if not thousands of fake instances that she hasn’t culled yet? Can you prove my assertion wrong?

    Your“probably”argument “probably” isn’t strong enough to dissuade Yashmak of his healthy and justified skepticism regarding this subject. It doesn’t dissuade me.

  69. #144460
    On October 11th, 2007 at 7:10 pm, Bill DeFelice said:

    Grow up! Some coward hung some rope on a door.That is all.Big deal.I say wait until the cops”view”that tape.
    Channon Christian,and Christofer Newsome suffered alot worse,from racial hate crime.Where are the MSM on that story?

  70. #144461
    On October 11th, 2007 at 7:11 pm, Yashmak said:

    LGF has linked an article that Columbia has reversed their position and will hand over the tapes.

    Good news. Now maybe we can get to the bottom of this.

  71. #144463
    On October 11th, 2007 at 7:13 pm, Yashmak said:

    For the record, I will gladly eat humble pie if it turns out that this really was a crime committed out of hate rather than some fabrication.

  72. #144464
    On October 11th, 2007 at 7:13 pm, Straight_Talk_Luigi said:

    Time to “page the justice brothers” as Michelle once put it.

    This ordeal must be giving Sharpton/Jackson a headache. Having to choose between a very liberal school and racism against African-Americans? Oh my. It’s like their worst nightmare come true.

    The results of tolerance and diversity education at Columbia have been laid bare because of this and the Iranian President speech.

    Personally, I am disgusted with this university. They only think and do what is in their top brass’s best interests, much less what is good for New York, African Americans, or the USA.

  73. #144468
    On October 11th, 2007 at 7:26 pm, chapoutier said:

    I am sure Yashmak that the professor in question will appreciate that, if/when this is found to be not a hoax, you and some others on here that were so quick to smear/accuse her will “eat humble pie.”

    Look, I have no idea why Columbia would initially resist handing the tape over. Some has speculated that maybe they felt a subpoena was necessary under FERPA. Maybe they were trying to take care of it internally in the wake of all the negative publicity they have received recently. But it is a HUGE leap of “logic” to infer the professor is creating a hoax because of the university’s actions.

    I guess I just have a higher standard when it comes to “reasonable hypothesis.”

    And Brian, my “probably” was to distinguish hundreds from thousands. I figured there would be hundreds of such cases. but you were right. I was totally wrong about that. In 2005 “2,037 law enforcement agencies reported the occurrence of 7,163 hate crime incidents” according to the FBI. My bad.

  74. #144474
    On October 11th, 2007 at 7:31 pm, UberInfidel67 said:

    Why all the outcry over this? Isn’t the noose-hanger (whoever it was ;) ) just engaging in the “dialogue” that CU was pimping when inviting Imadinnerjacket???????

  75. #144494
    On October 11th, 2007 at 7:59 pm, Rick Moran said:

    If this hasn’t been speculated on before, I’ll do it now.

    I bet the prof himself put the noose there. Or a black student.

    If it was a white student, they would have handed the tape over pronto.

  76. #144495
    On October 11th, 2007 at 8:02 pm, Pat said:

    It could be a hoax, as others have said. It seems farfetched unless you see and understand the near mental illness of many left wing profs.

    I know; I work at a left wing campus.

  77. #144498
    On October 11th, 2007 at 8:08 pm, beenthere said:

    All that I know is that by the rules of the University-Governmental Complex, unless there is a white boy involved, there is no crime. There could be a million other things, from teaching moment to mental illness, but there is no crime. Something has gone wrong. We will just have to wait and see what it is.

  78. #144500
    On October 11th, 2007 at 8:09 pm, Fasternu 426 said:

    I really, really want my little boy to go into to the military instead of college. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard. That is something to be proud of, not a diploma from an institute of higher indoctrination. College kids are lazy and for the most part whiny and worthless. VETS ROCK!

  79. #144507
    On October 11th, 2007 at 8:23 pm, zorro said:

    On October 11th, 2007 at 7:59 pm, Rick Moran said:
    If this hasn’t been speculated on before, I’ll do it now.

    I bet the prof himself put the noose there. Or a black student.

    If it was a white student, they would have handed the tape over pronto.

    Sadly, I think you are correct.

  80. #144510
    On October 11th, 2007 at 8:27 pm, UberInfidel67 said:

    Does anyone find it odd that they want to run DNA testing on the rope? About the only thing they could extrapolate from a DNA sample is if the perp was white or black, or male or female. Unless they have a database of their student’s DNA, this sounds like smoke and mirrors to me. JMO

  81. #144514
    On October 11th, 2007 at 8:31 pm, vermontaigne said:

    anti-Semitic grafitti? I told you it was Ahmadinejad.

    Actually, though, it’s someone trying to muddy the trail.

  82. #144515
    On October 11th, 2007 at 8:33 pm, vermontaigne said:

    You know, Michelle, you ought to put your hair up again from time to time. It’s a good look for you.

  83. #144520
    On October 11th, 2007 at 8:40 pm, metsfan4004 said:

    WTF? it absolutely amazes me that people think that pulling crap like this will fly in this day and age. if you put yourself forward in the spotlight, it’s gonna show that stain on your shirt. IMHO, this is yet another “projection” from the left where the ends justify the means. phooey. sorry, just so tired of the BS on the left that is slowly squeezing the life out of this beautiful country of ours. sorry for the rant. EJ

  84. #144534
    On October 11th, 2007 at 9:06 pm, mojoe said:

    Let me get this straight:
    -You lead a country and say publicly, weekly, that you’re going to destroy Israel and you get an invite to speak at Columbia.
    -You write anti-Semitic graffiti in a toilet stall at Columbia and it’s a hate crime?

  85. #144539
    On October 11th, 2007 at 9:13 pm, metsfan4004 said:

    mojoe – exactly!!!!

  86. #144541
    On October 11th, 2007 at 9:16 pm, Ombre Rose said:

    The second I saw the NOOSE story at COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, I so knew that Columbia would make absolutely certain the “perpetrator” would NEVER be caught!

    Gee, how did I know! Go figure!

  87. #144545
    On October 11th, 2007 at 9:23 pm, Ombre Rose said:

    On October 11th, 2007 at 7:59 pm, Rick

    Moran said:
    If this hasn’t been speculated on before, I’ll do it now.

    I bet the prof himself put the noose there. Or a black student.

    If it was a white student, they would have handed the tape over pronto.

    Especially if it was proven to be a student associated with ANY conservative or semi-conservative group on campus or in the area.
    They would have turned over the tape and the bloodied student, both. And feigned sorrow over their inability to protect the hate crime perpetrator.

  88. #144548
    On October 11th, 2007 at 9:30 pm, Ombre Rose said:

    On October 11th, 2007 at 4:09 pm, chapoutier said:
    Flushing a Koran demonstrates a profound dislike for the tenants and principles of the religion. Hanging a noose on someone’s door explicitly conveys a desire to kill that person. The first instance is intolerant. The second is intent to murder.
    They are both meant to intimidate the target audience, period. Whomever did this, and for whatever reason, I think its a huge jump to infer “intent to murder.”

    In all likelihood, as with the Pace case, it was some stupid student who got a bad grade from the professor in question or had done something else to anger the perp. People may think that the police should get involved or that it should be handled internally. All I am saying is to be consistent when the victim of intimidation is black rather than Muslim.

    &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

    Now, the koran flushing turned out to have been ABSOLUTELY ESTABLISHED to have been perpetrated by a muslim trying to get the guards in trouble – it was a lie.

    Seems the noose is obviously the same thing.
    Especially after it turns out the “nooses” in Jean weren’t nooses at all, but lassoes tied for roping livestock – which is merely a territorial marker. Similar only to “soaking” a tree in one’s “territory”.

    Seems that in both cases, the real perpetrators are trying to make INNOCENT PARTIES the targets of VIOLENCE “RETRIBUTION”.

    NOTHING NEW to those dealing with Liberals.

  89. #144553
    On October 11th, 2007 at 9:34 pm, pubscout said:

    Now why would a fine, upstanding open-monded institution like Columbia not turn over tapes that would nail the perp? Surely nobody at CU would hang a noose to frame a non-existent racist, would they? GWU leftwacks maybe, but not Columbia. Never Columbia. Really.

  90. #144557
    On October 11th, 2007 at 9:46 pm, hadsil said:

    It’s the story of the boy who cried wolf. When I first read of the noose incident, my first reaction was that it was planted there by a moonbat to wag the dog from the controversy of having the Iranian leader speak there, to gain a warp sense of sympathy for Columbia while at the same time get people angry at the “racists” who didn’t want him to speak there.

    This anti-semitic sprawl may be an unrelated coincidence or could be part of the same message of truth to power. Especially since it did happen at Columbia, I really can’t think of it as “real”. It is the moonbats’ own fault.

  91. #144559
    On October 11th, 2007 at 9:47 pm, Dandapani said:

    Hate is hate; crime is crime. There is no hate crime. What next, thought crime?

  92. #144565
    On October 11th, 2007 at 9:53 pm, Laree said:

    The odd thing is there is something worse- real going on down in Dallas. The FBI warned the Dallas PD., that police officer’s personal information was being gathered up by a white supremist group to compile a database…to steal their weapons, there are threats of violence on them because one of their leaders is in Jail. Dallas PD., is diverse, shouldn’t someone be worrying about a real threat, from real violent people? I am sure there are African Americans, along with other American ethnicities, in the Dallas Police Department. Wouldn’t the FBI be called to look into the Columbia incident? They warned the Dallas PD.

  93. #144566
    On October 11th, 2007 at 9:57 pm, blues said:

    This is beginning to sound like someone pranking.I’m thinking that Columbia sat on the tape so that the lawyers cuold see it before the police,to cover the admin’s. butts in case of possible litigation.I’m not a lawyer so it’s just a thought.Could Columbia face some liability for allowing this heinous crime to occur?

  94. #144571
    On October 11th, 2007 at 10:05 pm, DarkKnight said:

    Michelle, I’m quite surprised that you are finally starting to cover this noose incident. This is a huge story.

    I would also prefer that you cover the story about two nooses found in the Coast Guard ranks.

    Or you can also start paying attention to other nooses popping up around the country.

    But we all know racism is dead. Those “race hustlers” must be at it again. :-(

    Right Ms. Malkin?

  95. #144573
    On October 11th, 2007 at 10:07 pm, DarkKnight said:

    Other noose incidents…

    http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/nooses-on-the-loose-after-jena-6-case/

    BTW, comment about race hustlers is dripping in sarcasm. ;-)

  96. #144575
    On October 11th, 2007 at 10:10 pm, Gabe said:

    This is beginning to sound like someone pranking.

    This is not a prank. What is it is just like in the novel 1984. You have a bunch of Marxists and perhaps Islamists trying to whip the Columbia University students and faculty into a frenzy of hatred against “racist” Western culture. . .even if they have to invent, just like in 1984, the reason for the hatred. There is no doubt in my mind that the professor or a sympathetic colleague placed the noose around the door handle. Sick people are attracted to Marxism and socialism, and Teachers College at Columbia is completely socialist in education philosophy.

    Like others said, it is a great way to distract from THEIR anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel as demonstrated by their invitation of Ahmadinejad.

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