NEW ORLEANS —
It’s a spectacular sight you could only find on a college campus in New Orleans.
On Gibson Quad at Tulane University, colorful carnival trinkets fill each branch of the “Bead Tree,” memories from students returning to campus after a day filled with fun and revelry during Carnival season.
"It's just a nice spot. Brings people together,” senior Caleb Horowitz said.
"From the way back from Mardi Gras every year, you take the street car back or you walk back, and you stop by and you throw some beads," senior Fiona McMurtry said.
But now those beads are on the ground. The limbs have been swept away, as crews took down an iconic piece of campus pride Tuesday.
"It's pretty sad to hear the Bead Tree is coming down. A lot of good memories spent under it,” Horowitz said.
Students believed if the beads stuck on the tree, it would bring them good luck -- maybe even getting them an A in those stressful classes. It’s a tradition that’s been around for years.
"As far as I understand, they announced either like yesterday or today that it was coming down and then it was gone,” McMurtry said.
Campus leaders said the iconic tree had to come down. It was heavily damaged by lightning several years ago. Then termites decided to nibble on it, creating a safety hazard.
Officials say students won’t feel the loss of the tree for very long, though. They plan on naming a new Bread Tree soon. Parts of this tree will be saved, used and displayed during the 'Wave Goodbye Celebration' for graduates.