Editor's note: This marks the debut of a new monthly feature, "Since U Asked." Please send in your University-related questions, and we'll try to track down the answers. The messenger mail address is: Since U Asked, Inside UVA, Booker House, Box 400229, or you may e-mail us at insideuva@virginia.edu.

Q. Why were the trees cut down in front of Peabody Hall? Was that really necessary for the Special Collections construction?

A. We passed along this question to Mary Hughes, the University's landscape architect. Her reply: "The trees had to be removed now in order to allow for renovation of Peabody Hall as the new home of the Admissions Office and construction of the underground portion of the Special Collections Library, which will begin next summer. The area in front of Peabody is going to be used as the staging area for the contractor and will require access by large trucks and other equipment. Although it looked healthy, the base of the large oak tree showed signs of internal decay from a fungal infection. Two independent arborists evaluated the trees and advised that the three would not survive the impact of construction. By removing them now and allowing a clear path for the construction vehicles to follow, we hope to provide better protection for the remaining trees from the effects of the large-scale earth-moving operation. After construction is finished, the area will be re-graded to provide handicapped accessibility across the entire quadrangle and re-landscaped with many more trees than there are now. We hope that the eventual outcome will provide some consolation for the regrettable loss of these large trees."