Bath Township - Township police say the charred mannequin head found in a tree outside a student apartment complex Saturday was nothing more than a few students "goofing around."
The mannequin head was originally thought to be black, prompting swift response from students, community members and NAACP officials.
Three MSU students who claim responsibility told Bath Township officers there was no intent to intimidate or threaten anyone at the Village at Chandler Crossings apartment complex, Sgt. Scott Rose said.
"They weren't directing it toward the victim. They were merely screwing around and they themselves are minorities," said Rose, who added the mannequin was originally white.
Telecommunication junior Kenya Harvey, who discovered the mannequin head, declined to comment Monday.
"They've apologized to the complainant for the stress and the uproar it's caused to her,"Rose said. "Based on their statements it was just merely three individuals goofing around."
Rose said police have no plans to pursue the case criminally, but officers understand reactions to what took place.
"I can totally understand where the complainant was coming from, and the information as it was first reported to us would cause an individual stress and fear," he said.
Reaction to events such as this vary from person to person, and can't be generalized, criminal justice Professor David Carter said.
"You can't draw a general conclusion without considering all of the facts," Carter said. "The individual's response depends on their circumstances, life experiences and what they have gone through.
"I don't think you can draw a conclusion without knowing the facts, and it does no good to speculate."
Even though those responsible did not intend harm, Argentina Lewis, president of the Black Student Alliance, said the students acted carelessly.
"Even if the mannequin was white, they should not have burned it," Lewis said. "It got everybody worried and concerned."
University spokesman Terry Denbow said the incident should serve as a lesson.
"I'm glad that the motivation isn't racial, but the people who perpetrated this still have a lot to learn," he said. "When we hear about something like that and a member of our community comes forward and says she felt like she was in danger, that deserves our condemnation.
"Maybe an incident like this will cause us to realize the dangers inherent in things that seem like fun and that it still can hurt human beings."
