School officials are investigating a noose found hanging on the Duke University campus in the early hours of Wednesday morning, an incident that comes amid rising tension at the university.

The noose, apparently made out of yellow tape, was found at the Bryan Center Plaza, an active student hub that houses many of the campus's fraternity and sorority communities as well as the Center for Multicultural Affairs.

A noose was found early this morning hanging from a tree on the campus of @DukeU. pic.twitter.com/GoX24cXadC — Shaun King (@ShaunKing) April 1, 2015

"To whomever committed this hateful and stupid act, I just want to say that if your intent was to create fear, it will have the opposite effect," wrote Larry Moneta, Duke's vice president for student affairs to students on Wednesday morning.

The noose was removed from the tree at around 2:45 a.m. and policemen were investigating at the scene, according to the Duke Chronicle.

Student leaders have organized a forum for 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday on the steps of Duke Chapel to discuss the incident, and Duke's Black Student Alliance planned a silent march through campus at 1 p.m.

Gather in silence at 1pm today. We'll meet at the west campus bus stop at 12:50 to walk over. — Duke BSA (@dukebsa) April 1, 2015

#duke students lead silent march after noose found hanging from a tree on campus #DukeNoose pic.twitter.com/fuUINs5Bm7 — michelle marsh (@WRALMarsh) April 1, 2015

Some students expressed frustration that school administrators didn't directly refer to the act as one of racism.

I wish people would include the word racist in their emails about this incident. Cowardly and hateful are just not cutting it for me. — shaun (@_shaunjones_) April 1, 2015

It's becoming increasingly clear with each "scandal" (read: acts of racism) that this school was not meant for me. I was an afterthought — Trillary Banks (@le_debut) April 1, 2015

In response to Wednesday morning's events, several students commented on the event via the anonymous location-based discussion app Yik Yak.

Image: Screenshot via @MustBe__That04

Last week, Duke students were outraged after a Yik Yak allegation that drunk white male students chanted a racist song to a black female student on campus, according to the Duke Chronicle.

Following the alleged chant, a group of students formed an anonymous group called the People of Color Caucus. The group posted a photograph of the noose early on Wednesday morning, along with a message to fellow students:

To all black students, staff, faculty, and/or Durhamites on campus and in the area: Please take care of yourselves and each other. This campus is not a safe space, and has proven beyond any doubt that it is a hostile environment for any and all black people.

On Wednesday afternoon, 300 students marched through the Duke campus, chanting, "We are not afraid. We stand together."