A former student at Viterbo University has made her initial appearance virtually in La Crosse County Circuit Court.
Police say Victoria Unanka admitted starting a fire in a trash can on the second floor of a campus residence hall last April.
Unanka reportedly told authorities she did it because no one was listening to her.
Several racial hate messages had been found inside residence halls at the time. Some students decided to withdraw.
Unanka was arrested on arson charges, but she now faces a misdemeanor count of negligent handling of burning materials.
She is scheduled to return to court next month.
