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FBI helping investigate racist notes at Framingham State University

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — A Massachusetts university has asked the FBI to help investigate a series of racist notes left on campus.

Five messages with racial slurs targeting black students have been found at Framingham State University since October.

“I just feel like this person is being bold at this point. At this point you're pushing it,” freshman Jasmine Dingle-Brown said. “We have not seen any change since the beginning, since it first happened.”

Campus police Chief Brad Medeiros says handwriting evidence from the notes has been turned over the FBI.

MORE: Framingham State students protest continuous racist incidents at school

The most recent message was found Friday by freshman Carlos Barbosa Jr. He says it's the second racist note he's found this year and the school needs to take a tougher tack against harassment.

Students who know Barbosa said they think the person responsible just wants attention.

“These acts don't depict anything of FSU or what FSU stands for. FSU is definitely a family community,” sophomore Timothy Allen said. “My first year nothing like this ever happened so for it to be this year, it's pretty different.”

A university spokesman says administrators are "disappointed and disgusted" by the notes. He says the school is offering a $1,000 reward for information that identifies the person responsible for any of the messages.

“In response to recent events, we must not allow those with hate in their hearts to divide us. The best way to stand up to this type of vile behavior is by uniting as a community against it,” school leaders said in a letter to students.

MORE: More racial slurs found written on dorm room doors at Framingham State

The school is holding a community event Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. to talk about the incidents.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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