“We are both saddened and disturbed that this deplorable act has taken place on our campus," Targett said in a statement on Facebook Tuesday night.

Targett issued an updated statement to students Wednesday:

"Thanks to tips from students who responded to our earlier call for information and the investigative work of University of Delaware Police, it has been determined that the three noose-like items found outside Mitchell Hall were not instruments of a hate crime, but the remnants of paper lanterns from an event previously held on The Green," Targett said.

The "noose" incident was first believed to be a racist reaction to a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest on Monday of a speech by Fox News commentator and author Katie Pavlich, who has criticized the Black Lives Matter movement.