Noose found at ISU work site

NORMAL -- Workers demolishing two residence halls at Illinois State University found a noose hanging at the site.

ISU President Al Bowman issued a statement saying that the Laborers Local 362 working at the site notified him that a worker found the noose Monday afternoon. Bowman says university police are investigating the incident.

The site includes the Walker and Dunn-Barton residence halls at the campus. It was turned over to contractors last week.

Bowman calls the act "troubling and unacceptable."

The union says the job site has been shut down while police investigate. There's no immediate word from ISU officials when construction would continue.

Workers are building a new $50 million student recreation center at the site, set to open in July 2010.