An 18-year-old Drake University student is responsible for four of five racist notes found in residence halls and now faces criminal charges, school officials said.

The student admitted to writing one of the notes, officials said. She also reported receiving at least one of the notes, officials said.

A Drake spokesman said officials are confident the four notes reported by the female student were hoaxes. A fifth note, received by a different student in early November, is not connected to the other four notes, now considered copycats, officials said.

The student responsible for four of the notes faces harassment charges, said Sgt. Paul Parizek, Des Moines police spokesman.

The student will also be subject to the disciplinary process outlined in Drake’s Code of Student Conduct, which may result in actions up to and including expulsion, Drake spokesman Jarad Bernstein said.

Police and Drake campus security continue to investigate the origins of the first note sent in early November to freshman Keith Walker, who wrote about his experience in a social media post. Walker has not cooperated with the police investigation, Parizek said.

In statement sent to students and staff, Drake University President Marty Martin wrote that notes reported on Nov. 13, Nov. 15 and on Wednesday are "copycat hoaxes of an initial campus incident."

News of the notes created a climate of fear on Drake's campus and prompted a rally decrying racism and promoting unity.

On Nov. 14, about 3,000 students and others held a rally at Drake to celebrate diversity and call for unity among students. At the rally, a student speaker said she felt her life was in danger at Drake. Two days after the rally, students painted Painted Street black. Traditionally, student groups cover the street with colorful paintings in celebration of the Drake Relays.

In his Friday note to students and staff, Martin wrote: "The fact that the actions of the student who has admitted guilt were propelled by motives other than hate does not minimize the worry and emotional harm they caused, but should temper fears."

Martin noted that news of the notes prompted a white supremacist group to target robocalls to Drake landlines. The calls reached more than 250 faculty, staff and students.

"We will not tolerate racism or hatred of any form on this campus," Martin wrote.

Student leaders did not immediately reply to requests for comment Friday.