Bring first is certainly not easy. Taylor Dumpson is one who knows. What was supposed to be a wonderful time of celebration and feeling of great accomplishment was turned into something hateful and fearful.

Dumpson made history at American University in Washington, DC by becoming the first African American female to become the president of Student Government. Instead of talking about accountability, transparency, accessibility, and inclusivity as her first act as SG president, Dumpson was reduced to talk about race relations among the student body. “Now more than ever, we need to make sure that members of our community feel welcomed and above all, safe on this campus,” said Dumpson on the student government website.

On this past Monday hours after Dumpson was installed as SGA president, American University official were notified of bananas marked with the words ”AKA Free,” a reference to the first African American sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, of which Dumpson is a member, and “Harambe Bait,” a nod to the Cincinnati zoo gorilla that was killed last year. Making matters more threatening were that the bananas found in three locations on campus, at a shuttle bus stop, in front of the Mary Graydon Center, and near another building, were hung from nooses. Bananas have long been associated with racism since some people consider African Americans “apes and monkeys” and bananas are a favorite food of the animals.

This recent incident with the bananas comes after a string of condemning acts done on campus against African American students. In September of last year, an African American student reported having a rotten banana thrown at them and another stated that bananas were left on the doorstep of their dorm room. During the year before, racial slurs were written on the dorm doors of African American students.

University officials have since removed the bananas and the university’s Department of Public Safety started an investigation of this most recent incident. A $1,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information. Interim Vice President of Campus Life, Fanta Aw, said in a statement, “These racist, hateful messages have no place in our community. The safety of our students is paramount.”

Two blurry, grainy videos have been released by campus police showing someone walking on the campus between 3:45 am and 4:10 am. The person, wearing dark clothes, is believed to be one who may have hung the bananas.

“I regret this happened, apologize to everyone offended, and state emphatically that this incident does not reflect what American University truly is,” university President Cornelius Kerwin said in a press release. “While this incident targeted AU’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority ... and occurred after the first black woman and AKA member was sworn in as the Student Government president—our entire university community has been adversely affected by this cowardly, despicable act.”

In her own statement, Dumpson said, “It is disheartening and immensely frustrating that we are still dealing with this issue after recent conversations, dialogues and town halls surrounding race relations on campus. But this is exactly why we need to do more than just have conversations but move in a direction toward more tangible solutions to prevent incidents like these from occurring in the future.”

Standing with Dumpson are her beloved sorority sisters. On the same day the incident happen Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ‘s North Atlantic Regional Director Meredith Henderson and members of the supervising graduate chapter, Xi Omega, met with university officials over concerns of safety for the undergraduate members of the university’s Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chapter, Lambda Zeta, and other African American students. Furthermore, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s International President Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson has called the university to “take immediate action by conducting a thorough investigation that leads to disciplinary sanctions for the perpetrators of this appalling crime.” And to follow that up by strengthening “the security measures on campus to keep its SGA President, other Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority members and African Americans on campus safe.” President Wilson also contacted American University President Cornelius Kerwin to build a working relationship to discuss ways to ensure that all who come to AU are welcomed in an inclusive environment. “Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will not tolerate unwarranted attacks on our members or any member of our community, physical, verbal or otherwise, which interfere with their pursuit of higher education or their basic human rights,” said President Wilson in a statement.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, along with Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Congresswoman Alma Adams, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman expressed their outrage over the incident flanked by AKA President Wilson and AUSG President Dumpson. “Incidents such as these cannot be tolerated in a civilized society,” said Congresswoman Jackson Lee. “We must take a firm stance against racial bigotry in all its forms.”

AU students marched on Tuesday demanding justice and a change in race relations. Students across the globe are joining in the racial fight against racism via social media #FightRacismAU to show their support.