It was as if the Grinch had visited the University of Maine campus and stole the decorations. Gone are the wreaths, santas, and Christmas trees. Now University officials say news of an email ordering their removal was a misrepresentation of school policy.

WABI-TV reports the directive told staff members that the University makes every effort to make all cultures feel welcome. It went on to say that decorations are reflective of the diversity found on campus. Forbidden from being used in holiday decorations are Christmas trees, wreaths, presents, Menorahs, or candy canes.

One fraternity was reportedly doing a fundraiser, collecting coats and food for the community by using Christmas trees as a drawing point. The trees are now gone. And according to WABI, employees at the University bookstore have been told they can no longer say 'Merry Christmas.'

A Facebook page popped up this morning, 'Bring Cheer Back to UMaine' which is trying to organize a peaceful protest, handing out candy canes and other diverse cultural items.

University of Maine spokesman Dan Demeritt called WABI this morning, stating that the Christmas spirit is alive and well at the University of Maine. He said a clarifying email will be sent out sometime today, as the current information is a misrepresentation of University policy. The original email in question is said to have been from a supervisor somewhere on campus to his employees and was not meant to be viewed campus-wide.

And as for those fraternity trees? A representative for the fraternity says they were taken down, not because of the directive, but because the charity drive was completed.

More From 92.9 The Ticket