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Columbia Will Give NY Cops Noose Tape

School flip-flops on surveillance in hate-crime case

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 11, 2007 8:57 PM CDT

(Newser) – After holding out for more than a day, Columbia University will give New York police surveillance video that could yield clues on who left a noose on a professor's door, the New York Daily News reports. The school had told police—investigating what they're calling a hate crime against Professor Madonna Constantine—they would need a subpoena to get the tapes.

"It's unfortunate because it adds a time-consuming step to the investigation," an NYPD official told the News. Columbia colleagues found the noose—a symbol of racist lynchings in the South—on Constantine's door Tuesday. Constantine teaches race relations at the Ivy League school; police say they don't yet have suspects. Columbia also agreed to turn over names of students in Constantine's classes.

Teachers College students Valerie Camille Jones, left, and Nicole Le Blanc attend a protest rally at Columbia University, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, in New York. Authorities on Wednesday were looking into whether a noose hanging from the door of a black professor at Columbia University was the work of disgruntled...
Teachers College students Valerie Camille Jones, left, and Nicole Le Blanc attend a protest rally at Columbia University, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, in New York. Authorities on Wednesday were looking into...   (Associated Press)
In this photo released by the New York City Police Department, a four foot long noose hangs from a door knob of a Columbia University professor's office, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2007 in New York. The NYPD's hate crime unit was examining whether the twine noose was the work of students...
In this photo released by the New York City Police Department, a four foot long noose hangs from a door knob of a Columbia University professor's office, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2007 in New York. The NYPD's...   (Associated Press)
Professor Madonna Constantine speaks at a protest rally at Teachers College at Columbia University, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, in New York, one day after a hangman's noose was discovered on her office door at the college. Authorities on Wednesday were looking into whether a noose hanging from the door of...
Professor Madonna Constantine speaks at a protest rally at Teachers College at Columbia University, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, in New York, one day after a hangman's noose was discovered on her office...   (Associated Press)
The statue of Alma Mater on the campus of Columbia University is seen Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, in New York, one day after a black professor discovered a hangman's noose on her office door at Teachers College at Columbia University. (AP Photo/Diane Bondareff)
The statue of Alma Mater on the campus of Columbia University is seen Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, in New York, one day after a black professor discovered a hangman's noose on her office door at Teachers...   (Associated Press)
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