Two Columbus students suspended for 'noose incident'

Hardaway High School (MCSD)

Two Columbus high school pupils, both white males, are accused of dropping a rope noose before two black female students. The two female pupils are in their senior and freshman year.

The Muscogee County School District says the students have been suspended for ten days following the incident, which took place at the school's gym on Tuesday.

School District spokesperson Valarie Fuller says officials consider the incident, "intolerable."

"One of the students who tied, or apparently tied or made the noose, said he was making a 'painter's knot,"

Fuller says. She does not believe the two have a record of similar behavior at the school in the past, but added that she was awaiting confirmation. She says the two female students,

"...reported in the police report that they didn't feel any threat, of any sort."

Fuller stressed that the two accused youths were not charged with criminal activity.

Hardaway Prinicpal Matt Bell held a meeting with faculty to explain the details of the incident. Fuller says teachers discussed the incident with students during what the school calls a daily "Character Minute." Counselors are available for pupils, Fuller says, and

The accused white students are in their junior and sophomore year. They will appear before a panel of educators at a school district tribunal, on November 15.

MCSD Superintendent John Phillips told reporters:

"Obviously we are not going to allow that behavior in our school system for one minute. We obviously take this very serious and will not tolerate any act of this nature. Whether the intent was in a joking way or not, that is absolutely not acceptable in our school district."

According to the school's online Student - Parent Discipline and Guidance handbook, if the incident is considered a threat, it could possibly be considered as a "Level II," or a "Level III Violation," depending on the tribunal's conclusions. The handbook says that Level III violations may incur up to and including:

"Criminal prosecution

Assignment to Rose Hill Alternative School.

Expulsion from the Muscogee County School District (which could include permanent expulsion).

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