For years, Christmas trees have greeted visitors to the two main libraries on the University of North Carolina's Chapel Hill campus.
This year, they were kept in storage, The News & Observer reported.
Sarah Michalak, the university's associate provost for university libraries, said she made the decision after "years of complaints" about the display.
Student Derek Belcher said it doesn't make sense to him.
"We have Christmas as a federal holiday," he told the newspaper. "If we're going to remove the Christmas tree, do we have to remove that holiday?"
Decorations also have been banned by Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, according to news reports.
The university's greeting-card design contest has been replaced by an ugly-sweater competition. And the university's giving tree for needy preschoolers? Transformed into a "giving garden."
TAKE ACTION
Don't miss "Merry Tossmas 2008," Stuart Shepard's video commentary calling on retailers to acknowledge Christmas. Also, check out Focus Action's Christmas-Friendly Shopping Guide.
Sign the "I Stand for Christmas" petition to send a message to retailers.
— Jennifer Mesko
