Students returned to classes Monday to notice several trees between the Memorial Student Center and Jenkins Hall had been cut down over the weekend, with only piles of stumps to mark that they were once there.

“I went home for the weekend and came back and all the trees were gone,” said sophomore Ashley Young.

Marshall did not send any emails or alerts to notify students why the trees were cut.

Student body president Duncan Waugaman said the Student Government Association was not involved in the decision and they were notified that the cuts would be happening.

Waugaman said as far as he knows, the trees were infected by bacteria that has affected other trees on campus and had to be removed for that reason.

Young said she wished the university had sent an email to explain the trees being cut. Young said when the tree beside the Science Building was cut down, there were emails explaining it and a plaque was put up.

“I was sad because it looked ugly and empty,” Young said.

Young said she hopes the university plants new trees in the same places and hopes they are similar to the old trees.

Young said if Marshall planted new trees, she would still be sad because they will not grow until students are gone for summer break.

“By the time they grow we’re going to be gone,” Young said.

Junior accounting major Matt Theiss had a different response to the cut trees.

“It didn’t really bother me,” Theiss said. “I’m not emotionally attached to those trees, especially if they’re diseased.”

Theiss said he knew other students set up hammocks and studied under the trees, so he understood people being upset.

“I can see how it could be upsetting to others,” Theiss said. “I can empathize.”

“If I was picnicking under the trees, it would be sad but I don’t picnic,” Theiss said.

Theiss said if the university plants new trees, it definitely justifies cutting the old ones.

Marshall has not made an official statement regarding the trees, but the Marshall University twitter account responded to several students’ tweets asking about the trees. The tweets from the account said the trees were diseased and new plants will be planted in the spring.

Stacks of tree stumps are still scattered on the ground across campus behind the Campus Christian Center.

Lydia Waybright can be contacted at [email protected].