University officials force students to remove dormitory Christmas display
University of Virginia administrators have ordered students to disassemble a Christmas display they set up in their dormitory hallway, Campus Reform learned on Wednesday.
Students in Lawn Hall have produced a YouTube video petitioning the University of Virginia administration to permit the holiday decorations in their dormitories..
The holiday display, located in the Lawn Hall dormitory included live Christmas trees, lights, and holiday decorations.
The student newspaper, The Cavalier Daily, reported on Thursday that school administrators had ordered that the students to remove the decorations citing“safety reasons” and the fire code.
Students who live on the hall protested the decision by posting a video on YouTube imploring the administration to reconsider its decision.
“Don’t be a Grinch, keep the trees,” said one student.
The video concludes with the message: “Please let us keep the decorations on the Lawn -- keep spreading the holiday cheer.
WATCH: Students ask university to reverse their decision and allow Christmas display
The decoration policy listed on UVA’s website does not address Christmas trees. It does, however, say “items appearing to be combustible must be removed when discovered.”
Neither administrators or the campus fire department provided comment despite multiple requests from Campus Reform.
In the video, about a dozen additional students also conveyed their support for the display.
“The trees, the spirits, and the holiday cheer coming from the rooms is wonderful,” said an unidentified male student in the video.
“To hear they are in danger is horrifying,” he added.
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