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NYPD Annoyed with Columbia
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 13, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 13, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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As the NYPD Hate Crimes unit, as well as the FBI and Justice Department, investigates the noose found outside a Columbia professor's office, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly commented about the school's cooperation. Apparently the school only turned over surveillance videos after the NYPD provided a subpoena - three days after the noose was found on Teachers College Professor Madonna Constatine's office door knob.
Columbia said that educational institutions require subpoenas, because they are dealing with students' privacy. Commissioner Kelly said, ""We get videotape all the time from the scenes of crimes. Generally speaking, no one requires a subpoena. If that's what the school requires, we'll certainly be cognizant of that in the future." But he also said, "We do this all the time - we get videotape all the time from the scenes of crimes. I think [Columbia] had a very broad interpretation of the law, and we need a common-sense standard here."
So far, the videos haven't provided any clues. There are no suspects yet. A professor who Constantine sued for defamation - it seems that Suniya Luthar felt Constantine was taking too much credit for a book they worked on - was ruled out as a suspect. And the NYPD is also investigating the noose noticed outside the the Church Street post office onThursday. Commissioner Kelly said it could very well be a copycat incident: "When something happens, we do have to be concerned that others might do it."
The Daily News also reports that Assemblyman Joseph Lentol will introduce "legislation to make displaying a noose a felony akin to showcasing a burning cross or a swastika." He said, "I think it is high time that the law recognizes the racial and historic hatred that a noose symbolizes." And Newsday looks at the ugly history of what the noose evokes.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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