BATON ROUGE - LSU said a picture of what appeared to be a noose hanging from a campus tree Thursday was not what it appeared to be.

The picture was posted on social media and quickly spread through the LSU community. It showed what looked like a loop at the end of a rope or wire high up in a tree near Coates Hall.

A university spokesperson said it was actually part of a lightning prevention device which had come loose from a tree.

It's actually a lightning cable ripped out of place after a tree limb fell. The diameter of noose is 1inch #LSU pic.twitter.com/YvxiN4a8Jh

— Mark Armstrong (@TV_MarkA) November 12, 2015

LSU Police still responded to check the scene and make sure it was safe for students before the wire was secured again.

The social media concern comes after a week of high-profile racial tensions in academic circles, specifically at the University of Missouri where students said racial slurs and threats such as nooses went unaddressed by administrators. The outcry led to the resignation of both the University of Missouri system president and Mizzou's chancellor.

LSU also sent out an email informing the campus about the situation, and emphasized that racial intolerance will not be permitted on campus. LSU NAACP said they also have a planned moment of silence at noon to support the University of Missouri protests.

#LSU campus broadcast in response to report. pic.twitter.com/y2JF5uwtcV

— LSU (@lsu) November 12, 2015