An art project confused for a racial statement caused outrage from African American Students. On November 6, 2000, Rachelle Peck, a senior art major, implemented the assignment in Art Sculpture 241 to create a temporary, site-specific art project to depict the destruction of nature by hanging nine nooses from a single tree at the corner of the Joe Johnson-John Ward Pedestrian Mall and Volunteer Boulevard. Some of the nooses had dead limbs in the knots; some did not. Peck indicated that she chose the tree because it was crowded into the corner of the building and surrounded by concrete—she was showing the strangling of the environment. A crowd grew around the display, and UT police officers began removing the nooses, perceived by most of the assembled crowd to be a hate statement against African Americans. President Gilley held an “emergency open forum” to address diversity awareness issues on November 9, at which Vice President of Equity and Diversity Theotis Robinson, Interim Provost Clifton Woods, and Vice President and Chief of Staff Katherine High served as a panel to answer questions and concerns, following an opening statement from President Gilley.