PITTSFIELD – The diversity of population at Maine Central Institute is seen as a bonus for students attending the college preparatory school in SAD 53 and the communities surrounding it.

Every once in a while, however, an ugly incident casts a shadow on the positive relationship between local residents and boarding students.

Pittsfield police are investigating a hate crime on the campus and have contacted the Maine Attorney General’s Office regarding the incident.

One night last week, a car sped through the campus after dark and those inside shouted “nigger” followed by a threat at a group of black students standing in front of their dormitory.

“It appears to have been an isolated, spur-of-the-moment, stupid thing,” Police Chief Steven Emery said Tuesday.

But such a random act often can have painful ramifications, Head of School Joanne Szadkowski told the SAD 53 board of directors Monday night.

“We need to create a welcoming atmosphere, not one of fear,” Szadkowski said. “An incident like this can create a tension among the students.”

It also can lead to a $5,000 fine and a court injunction should the state convict those involved under the Maine Civil Rights Act, Assistant Attorney General Thomas Harnett said Tuesday.

In this case, those involved could be charged with criminal threatening by the Somerset County District Attorney, and Harnett’s office could bring the civil action, the state prosecutor said. Part of the punishment could be a court injunction that would limit the behavior of those involved. A violation of that injunction could result in a year in jail.

Emery said no one is able to identify the car or its registration plate, and the only information provided is that a male and a female were in the vehicle, both shouting.

“We’ve made it a matter of record with the Attorney General’s Office in case it comes up later,” Emery said.

Winn Price, MCI dean of students, said the incident had an unexpected bonus: The remaining student body began rallying around the black students, and they saw that the school, the police and the community did not accept the event as business as usual.

“The dorm kids have absolutely felt our kids rallying around them. They have seen by the reaction of this community that such behavior is not acceptable,” Price said.

The school official said that by the day-to-day behavior of the rest of the student body, the affected dorm students are learning that they are a valued part of the school community.

On the morning after the incident, a group of about eight dormitory students came to Price to complain.

“In the back of their minds were concerns such as ‘Who is doing this?'” he said.

Price said that through a tip about the car from other students, he was able to assure the black students that those involved did not attend MCI.