OXFORD, Miss. – A former student at the University of Mississippi pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanour charge arising from a noose placed on a statue of a prominent black civil rights activist.

At a brief court appearance, Graeme Phillip Harris pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening force to intimidate African-American students and employees at the university.

The noose and a former Georgia state flag carrying the Confederate battle emblem were placed on a statue of civil rights campaigner James Meredith on the university campus in 2014. It appeared to be a symbolic jab at the university’s tortured racial past. When a court ordered the school to admit Meredith in 1962, the African-American student had to be escorted onto campus by armed federal agents. The agents were attacked in an all-night riot that claimed two lives and was ultimately quelled by federal troops.

Harris of Georgia faces up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. A judge is expected to sentence Harris later.

David Hill, a lawyer for Harris, said on Thursday that Harris wanted to take responsibility for his actions. Two other former students took part in the incident, according to prosecutors.

University spokesman Danny Blanton released a school statement Thursday expressing hopes that closure in the case would further the healing process.

“This further affirms thatconductof this nature will not be tolerated on our campus,” said Dr. Brandi Hephner LaBanc, vice chancellor for student affairs.