Tom Johnson, Western Carolina University chief of police, is reporting that as of 4:30 p.m. today (Tuesday, Oct. 21) seven individuals – all of them students at WCU – had been identified as involved in the placement of the body of a dead bear that was found on the WCU campus at about 7:45 a.m. Monday, Oct. 20. Authorities have interviewed most, but not all, of the seven individuals. Based on the information provided by those interviewed, authorities believe that the incident was not some sort of political statement, as had been the subject of speculation due to the fact that campaign signs in support of Barack Obama were found on the bear’s body, but was a prank.

According to interviews conducted so far, some students camping in a forested area off campus stumbled across the body of the bear while searching for firewood late Saturday night, Oct. 18. The students put the bear, which had been shot, in the back of a pick-up truck and continued their camping trip. Those students arrived at a social gathering at The Summit, an off-campus residential complex, on Sunday night, Oct. 19, with the bear in the back of the truck, and struck up a conversation with other individuals about what to do with the animal. One of the students suggested placing it at the base of the Catamount statue at the main entrance of campus. En route to campus, the students took random political signs to put over the bear’s head in an effort to cover the head wound and prevent blood from spilling into the bed of the truck. The students dumped the bear into the center of the roundabout at the entrance to campus at about 2:40 a.m. Monday, and returned to their apartment.

The students told Chief Johnson that their actions were not politically or racially motivated. One of the students involved in the incident is African-American. At this time, no charges have been filed in the incident. Campus law enforcement officers and N.C. Wildlife Resources agents will discuss their findings with the District Attorney’s Office to determine whether charges would be appropriate. The discussion with the DA will not take place until all perpetrators have been interviewed. Johnson notified the State Bureau of Investigation early in the investigation and has briefed the U.S. Secret Service throughout the process of the investigation.

Upon hearing of the findings of the interviews, Western Carolina University Chancellor John W. Bardo issued the following statement: “I am pleased to hear that this situation appears to be a stupid prank. I am disappointed in the extremely poor judgment demonstrated by these young people. I hope that this intolerable incident can serve as a learning moment for them and for others, one that reminds us that we must respect one another’s opinions and we should not jump to conclusions without first having all the facts.”

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Last modified: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008