A northeast Ohio college says it canceled classes after a report that a person wearing a hooded robe resembling Ku Klux Klan gear was seen near an African heritage building.

Oberlin College canceled Monday's classes after the early morning sighting. The college calls the sighting the latest in a series of hate-related incidents on campus.

Repeated incidents of racist graffiti were reported on campus last month.

Oberlin, which prides itself as a stop on the Underground Railroad that helped fugitive slaves, invited students and professors to attend afternoon events focused on mutual respect.

Oberlin president Marvin Krislov and three college deans told the campus community in an open letter that they hope the ordeal will lead to a stronger Oberlin.

The college is about 30 miles southwest of Cleveland.