The area outside Centennial Hall was painted red last Friday as onlookers stared in utter horror at their first glimpse of Autumn.
Students have suspected in recent weeks that fall was coming, but many weren’t anticipating it to come so soon, and with such leafality.
“I thought for sure we had a couple more weeks. Having it fall early seems kind of unreal,” said RJ Smith, a criminology major with a minor in pumpkin carving.
Police have taped off the Centennial front entrance, worried about the gruesomeness of the scene, but have gone on to say it hasn’t helped all that much.
“Yeah, I mean there are limbs everywhere, it’s pretty graphic. That’s the thing about plant crimes, they really take deep roots and stick with ya,” said officer Sporange.
Tree limbs have been found with increasing frequency around campus in the past weeks. The police speculate the killer is building up to something. Like a little wooden house. Few anticipated the first tree to be thrown to elements.
“I mean one day it was green, and the next it was… also green. I guess it was green for a while before it slowly started turning red,” said Smith.
At press time, the tree looked better than it did when it was green.
Campus police say the suspect is still on the lam and is expected to claim more foliage in the coming days. Officer Sporange has advised students to shelter in slightly heavier jackets.
Crime scene photo by Joseph Impellitteri