No Christmas trees this year at the two main libraries at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Trees have been in the lobby of the Wilson and Davis libraries for years.

Associate provost Sarah Michalak decided against the trees. Michalak said she eliminated the displays after getting questions and complaints from employees and library users about the Christian display.

Michalak says she acted after finding there are no Christmas trees in the libraries at Duke and North Carolina State University.

She says it doesn't seem right to celebrate one particular set of customs. She says libraries contain information from around the world about all belief systems that is offered without judgment.

Student Derek Belcher complained the decision is just political correctness.

"it's a shame, I enjoyed seeing it, it kind of added to the festivity," said UNC junior Simon Peter Conrad.

"Eighty-eight percent of the people that go to that school, and pay for that school celebrate Christmas," said Steve Noble.

Noble heads 'Call To Action,' the group that spearheaded the effort to get a natavity scene in downtown Raleigh. He says he's not surprised about the move. Instead, he plans to fight it.

"Instead of offending 88 percent of the people, why not just include the other twelve percent and put a Menorah in there, and something else for Ramidan," he asked.

UNC student Yilan Fu doesn't celebrate Christmas, but she says she's still surprised about the decision.

"I'm not quite sure the Christmas tree or other decorations [are] related to religious thinking," she said.

The Chancellor of UNC issued the following statement:

I understand that the Library staff made the decision not to put up a Christmas tree this year after giving it a lot of thought. The university administration doesn't get involved in decisions like that. Departments can choose to put up a tree or not. And if you take a walk across campus, I think you'll see that. The façade of Memorial Hall, our major performing venue, is fully decorated for the holiday, and The Nutcracker is its major December attraction. Student Stores is like any retailer this time of year. They have a tree decorated with Carolina ornaments in the window and, in the store, there is a mantle decorated with Carolina stockings. The Student Activities Fund Office has a Christmas tree in its window. There's a big Christmas wreath with a Carolina-blue ribbon on it in the Student Union. Our own Carolina Inn is again featuring its Twelve Days of Christmas displays throughout the hotel. And just as we have for the last 59 years, our Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is featuring The Star of Bethlehem.

So Christmas is recognized on this campus.

Thanks for your interest in Carolina, and have a joyous Christmas season.

Holden Thorp