Baylor student Gabrielle Pina said the incident does not reflect the school as a whole.

The announcement of Barack Obama's presidential victory prompted some Baylor University students, in three separate incidents, to express their sentiments in a way that ignited a controversy on the campus.

Late Tuesday afternoon, a group of individuals discovered a single clothesline rope hanging from a tree on campus. They notified Baylor officials and said the display looked like a noose.

In a statement released Wednesday, Interim President David Garland called the events "deeply disturbing" and said the university "categorically denounce(s)" the acts "and will not tolerate racist acts of any kind on our campus."

		WATCH THE VIDEO
	Baylor Incidents News 8's Bonnie Gonzalez tells us why Baylor University is investigating some recent campus incidents surrounding the election.

The other two incidents involve the burning of Obama and Biden campaign signs, and a shouting match between two groups of students.

Baylor police were called to investigate the shouting match outside Penland Hall between a group of white students and a group of African-American students arguing about the election. The dispute did not turn physical.

"Those expressions of disagreement or that 'my candidate didn't win' can take on a racial overtone, either on purpose or indirectly," Baylor sociology professor Kevin Dougherty said.

	Video
To view the video posted by The Lariat, click here.

The Lariat, Baylor's student newspaper, posted video of the burning of Obama and Biden campaign signs on their Web site.

"People are going to react civilized and uncivilized, and you can't put boundaries on everything, so something is bound to erupt," Baylor student Alyssa Olivas said. "So I'm not surprised this would happen."

Baylor student Gabrielle Pina said she hopes the actions of a few do not project on the school as a whole.

"I just really felt that Baylor's better than this," Pina said. "And people shouldn't look down on Baylor for this incident, because, like, there's people everywhere that go a little bit farther than they should."

	Baylor statement regarding campus incidents
Nov. 5, 2008 Interim Baylor University President David E. Garland released the following statement: Baylor police reported today on three disturbing incidents that occurred on our campus yesterday. Late Tuesday afternoon we were notified of a single clothesline rope that had been seen in a tree on campus. The individuals who discovered it believed it had the appearance of a noose. Baylor police are now in possession of the rope and continue to speak with students who observed the rope in the tree and are gathering additional information about the origin of the rope. Last evening, police investigated a small fire in a barbecue pit adjacent to Brooks Flats in which it was alleged several Obama/Biden campaign signs had been burned. Finally, police were called late last evening to a disturbance outside Penland Hall, where a shouting match had occurred between two small groups of white and African-American students. These events are deeply disturbing to us and are antithetical to the mission of Baylor University. We categorically denounce and will not tolerate racist acts of any kind on our campus. Further, we are committed to maintaining the safety and unity of our campus community. We wish to celebrate and strengthen inclusiveness, understanding and acceptance of all members of the Baylor family. As they have thus far, Baylor police will respond quickly and decisively to any additional situations of this nature. Faculty, staff and students with information pertaining to any of the incidents we've described are urged to contact Baylor police at 710-2222. Baylor has specific policies regarding expectations of civility and respect on our campus. Those policies, which we endorse and enforce, can be found at http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php?id=39242. Faculty, staff and students also participate in on-going weekly meetings hosted by our department of multicultural activities called "Frankly Speaking" in which issues of the day are discussed in a respectful and civil manner. The goal of "Frankly Speaking" is for participants to feel comfortable expressing their opinions and beliefs within a safe environment. The meetings are held in the Bill Daniel Student Center each Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., and members of the Baylor community are invited to participate. We believe that the incidents on our campus yesterday were irresponsible acts committed by a few individuals. As a community we condemn these terribly unfortunate events that do not represent the values we share as members of the Baylor family.