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The University of Wisconsin-Madison's chief of police issued a formal apology Friday because an officer entered a classroom after a class had started Thursday, and asked a black student to step outside for questioning about 11 anti-white supremacy graffiti statements that popped up across campus in recent months.

"Because of the officer's error in believing the class had not yet started, I extend my sincerest apologies to the students and the professor who were in this class and witnessed this interruption," Police Chief Susan Riseling said in a statement.

The student's removal from class has prompted angry responses from several groups on campus, including the Associated Students of Madison and the executive committee of the Teaching Assistants' Association.

"Why aren't we pulling individuals from classrooms who have raped someone?" asked Madison Laning, chair of Student Council leadership.

Two eyewitnesses said the 21-year-old student accused of tagging campus buildings to protest racism was handled roughly, according to a statement from the Teaching Assistants' Association's executive committee.

The TAA statement accused the university of "halfhearted condemnations" of racist incidents around campus, including the mocking of tribal leaders at Dejope Residence Hall, graffiti of a man hanging from a tree in a Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery restroom, and students facing hateful language and being spit in the face in their residence hall.

"University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) administration apparently considers these incidents less concerning than a black student's expression of justified frustration with this climate," the TAA statement said.

The police chief's statement addressed some of those sentiments.

"Questions have been raised about this crime and whether the content of the vandalism influenced the police response," Riseling said.

"Graffiti is criminal vandalism and we act on these crimes regardless of the content. With every report we receive, we thoroughly investigate, work to identify individuals who were involved, and when appropriate, take action to hold the individuals responsible for their criminal action(s)."

At the same time, Riseling said, the department is reviewing all officer actions upon entering the classroom, and department procedures related to classroom contacts, consistent with the department's commitment to the academic mission of the university.

"In the interest of transparency and public understanding of this incident, UWPD will be releasing all body camera video and external surveillance video associated with this contact as soon as possible," the police chief said.

The graffiti in question was signed "God" and included writings such as "White supremacy is a disease" and "Racism in the air. Don't breathe." It appeared over the past six months on several campus buildings, including Memorial Library, Chazen Museum of Art, Vilas Hall and the Humanities Building.

Vilas Hall is home to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The student who was arrested is majoring in journalism, and did a class project in 2014 about what it's like to be black at a predominantly white university, according to Mike Wagner, an associate professor of journalism and mass communication.

"Here's something I never thought I'd write: one of my best students was pulled out of class and arrested today," Wagner wrote in a blog post.

"It is shocking and deeply upsetting that an unarmed suspect of a nonviolent crime was pulled from a college class to be arrested...

"This is not professional behavior. It is not recognizing my student's humanity, nor was it respectful of the faculty of color who was teaching and was ignored by the officers."

Two of the graffiti incidents reportedly occurred the night before the student was arrested.

On Thursday, UW-Madison police entered a campus auditorium to locate and speak with the student believed to be responsible, Riseling said.

"UWPD police officers had been attempting to contact the student for the last two weeks for questioning — knocks on doors and phone calls went unanswered," the chief said in her statement.

The officer scanned the room before entering, she said.

"He observed a group of people sitting and talking among themselves. The officer did not see anyone standing at the front of the room or lecturing — the officer mistakenly believed the class had not yet started. The officer entered the classroom, located the student, and asked to speak with him in the hallway. It was at this time the assistant professor identified herself to officers."