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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
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Comments
By Joseph on 12/15 07:02 PM
Look, how about a little tolerance. I don't care one way or the other about someone else's religion. But don't get upset if I don't endorse you putting your decorations in my space. How would you like it if I put up my pentagram, horned goat, and bloody scythe in the library? I don't expect you would appreciate it. Look, just how about a little tolerance?
By Joseph on 12/15 06:56 PM
So it always gets back to xenophobia, eh Sam?
By Sam Deakins on 12/15 09:29 AM
Too many Northern carpetbaggers coming south and bringing their garbage with them.
By Elisabeth Bowman on 12/11 10:21 AM
I believe the reason people complain about Christmas trees, is to see if their complaining would actually be taken seriously. I think it's ubsurd that people would be offended at something that has been an American tradition for generations. I think there are a few radicals out there that are trying to take these traditions away; I just don't understand it.
By Gene Smith on 12/10 05:49 PM
Hey Joseph,(you have a popular biblical name),but you are comparing apples and oranges. I'm just feel that respect of a principal that our country was built on has been violated. I don't think a Christmas tree in the libraries is imposing religion on anyone, There are trees all over the Campus. It just appears that an individual took it upon themself to show disrespect for an important holiday.
By Richard on 12/08 08:24 PM
Since this article was published I have already had a request for money I turned down, referring them to Ms Michelak.
By Richard on 12/08 08:20 PM
Joseph, where have you been. Obama isn't in office yet and his parents were not married when he was born.
By Harry on 12/06 08:10 AM
Putting up a tree in a public space is an endorsement of a particular faith. Christians, why is it so important to you to put your decorations in public? No one cares if you want to decorate your own house, but don't force me to have to endure your silly traditions.
By JESUS on 12/05 10:05 PM
COME ON NOW. STOP YOUR BICKERING, OR I'LL SMITE YOU. JERKYS.
By Felonia on 12/05 10:02 PM
Holy cow Byron. I'm a Christian, but even though you claim to be one...I'm not so sure. How about a little tolerance?
By Alfred on 12/05 10:00 PM
I'm so tired of these liberals who think that this land that was built on Christian beliefs should accept such non Christian/Judeo beliefs as the opinions above. If you don't love the Lord, then you should leave this country.
By Byron on 12/05 09:55 PM
It's horrible that these liberal jerkoffs want to impose their non-christian beliefs on the rest of us. Let those who don't love Jesus go straight to Satan and DON'T PASS GO. Let those who aren't christians, LEAVE OUR COUNTRY! This is a GOD-FEARING LAND that has no room for muslims, jews, hindus or athiests. GET OUT OF OUR COUNTRY, you heathens.
By Brandon '07 on 12/05 09:04 PM
This is crazy. Thanks to one or two soft-skinned liberals, a small part of a worldwide tradition is not being put up. How many students walk by those trees and remember Christmas at home, making them cheer up during exam time? UNC has done it again, not being able to just say no to someone, and "including all" - which really just means about two or three.
By Dan Rea ('86) on 12/05 08:32 PM
Carolina, u never cease 2 amaze me, letting the minority become the majority. Will wishing a fellow student or alum on campus a "Merry Christmas" be an honor code violation?
By Amelia on 12/05 07:30 PM
This is absolutely ridiculous! Put up the Christmas trees!
By Julia on 12/05 07:29 PM
If the absence of a public holiday decoration is enough to make people fear for their religious faith, I'd have to say that makes me think their personal faith is already doing poorly.
By Joseph on 12/05 06:59 PM
Hey Gene, The constitution is in place to PROTECT the minority from the majority. Remember in the 60s when mixed marriages were illegal? 70 percent of America supported the ban when the Supreme Court overturned it. Had the majority had it's way, we'd be arresting President Obama's parents.
By Pastor Mike on 12/05 06:56 PM
People, it's a pagan ritual anyway. The Christmas tree has NOTHING to do with Christ. I agree with the Auntie. I'm tired a Christians ramming their religion down my throats. What total hypocrites you all are: You'll kill someone to stop an abortion, call for the execution of a criminal, and then support a president who advocates war when provoked. And those are the nice things you do. Someone will no doubt say that I should leave the country if I don't like it. Please spare me. I'm staying because I love this country. I just hate the evil, hateful, war mongering, racist, xenophobic Christians.
By Gene Smith on 12/05 04:57 PM
Once again, not only in Chapel Hill,but always in Chapel Hill the minority wins over the majority. Anyone surprised?!
By Brad on 12/05 04:44 PM
This is why America is crumbling beneath us. PC has killed America, Happy!
By Auntie Nanuuq on 12/05 01:46 PM
"Both setting up and taking down a Christmas tree are done on specific dates. In Europe, when the practice of setting up evergreen trees originated in pagan times, the practice was associated with the Winter Solstice, around December 21.[6] Tree decoration was later adopted into Christian practice after the Church set December 25 as the birth of Christ, thereby supplanting the pagan celebration of the solstice." Silly woman, this really has nothing to do w/ christmas....but I do understand her concern, and not being "christian" myself, well sometimes even the easter bunny can become obnoxious! Mi Takuye Oyacin
By Susan on 12/05 01:23 PM
Well this just puts the nail in the coffin!!!!! I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sick of the politically correct, the religious correst and the everything else correct, I could SCREAM!!!!!! Let's just do away with everything that has anything to do with anything. Would this finally make these "have no life and live to demonstrate against whatever" people finally happy????????? This decision makes me want to put Christmas trees EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get over yourselves and find something constructive to do with your lives!!!!!
By Amy on 12/05 11:23 AM
Meanwhile, these same students will be expecting me to fund their education. I sure hope I get another fundraising call from them so I can tell them why they are not getting any more money.
By dhani on 12/05 09:19 AM
Fine. But ban ALL religious clothing and symbols too.
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