Six campus trees chopped down
Published Oct. 31, 2006
Police are still investigating damage to six trees that were chopped down on various parts of campus during Homecoming weekend. According to a MU Police Department news release, the trees were chopped down between 5 p.m. Oct. 20 and 7:30 a.m. Oct. 21 with an "ax-like object."
MU police Capt. Brian Weimer said that there have been no updates in the case.
"We would hope that if somebody saw something, they would have reported it that night or now," Weimer said. "If they want to remain anonymous, they can call Crime Stoppers."
He also said police have not yet determined whether the tool used to cut down the trees was an ax or a smaller tool that could be concealed.
"It would appear to me to be an ax," Campus Facilities spokesman Phil Shocklee said. "It could be a hatchet or a machete, but it looked to me to be an ax of some kind."
The trees were chopped down outside of the Arts and Science Building, Ellis Library, Peace Park and the Woodland Floral Garden outside of the Agriculture Building.
Forestry professor Stephen Pallardy said he noticed the damage and reported it to his department office. He said at the time he believed that it was the only incident.
"This tree was small enough that it could have been anything," said Pallardy. "Not scissors or anything, but an ax or a hatchet or a machete."
He said he did not recall any comparable vandalism in the recent past. Though he said people sometimes pull branches off of trees, chopping down the trees across campus must have been premeditated.
"My feeling is that someone thought it was a prank, but it was really vandalism," Pallardy said. "I think the person or persons who did it would be surprised how much these trees are worth."
Shocklee said the funding to replace the trees would come from the Landscape Services budget. The trees are valued at $4,500 total.
"We do plan to replace all six trees, including the one dedicated to Brent Barton," Shocklee said.
One of the damaged trees, a Silver Linden tree, was dedicated in memory of Brent A. Barton in 1991 according to a plaque at the tree's base. Mizzou Botanic Garden representatives are attempting to locate the individuals who paid for the tree.
"We are still working on trying to track down the donors," said Terri Gray, director of development for the garden.
Although the tree will be replaced, it might not be the same type of tree.
"That would be up to Landscape Services," said Gray. "(Landscape Services) were just devastated that somebody would cut down such a beautiful tree."