Authorities are investigating after someone left black nylon stockings filled with dirt hanging from trees outside a Winthrop University hall named for an avowed racist.
A Winthrop University Police report said 12 stockings were found Sunday outside Tillman Hall, with a sign taped over a plaque reading “Tillman’s Legacy.”
Tillman was a South Carolina governor and a U.S. senator. He helped lead a mob that killed four blacks in July 1876 and said African-Americans were barbarians and savages.
There has long been a push on campus to change the name of Tillman Hall.
According to local news stations some students from an artist’s group hung the stockings outside Tillman Hall to continue an effort to get the name of the building changed.
There was no explanation left with the stockings though, and some students thought it was a racial attack on African-Americans.
Those unnamed students behind the display said it was left to get people talking again about Tillman. Still, some students told Channel 9 that it wasn’t the right way to send a message.
“I think the people on this campus, they want to change things in a positive way, so I don’t understand how doing that is positive,” said Kali Smith.
The police report said the stockings appeared to be placed overnight. There was no security camera footage.
Winthrop president Dan Mahony said the act would not be tolerated.
Winthrop University police are investigating the display as a vandalism case, and Mahony called it “hurtful” and “threatening.”
The university can’t change the name of Tillman Hall without legislative approval.
In a statement released by the University VP of University Relations Jeff Perez said “the issue will be fully investigated and those responsible will be held fully accountable.”
