A symbolic Shi Shi lion-dog statue in front of the Kathleen D. and Milton E. Muelder Japanese Garden once again is without a mate after its partner — a similar statue — was reported stolen during the holiday break. The garden, located in the Clarence E. Lewis Landscape Arboretum on Service Road, was flanked by two statues said to ward off evil spirits in Japanese culture.
Representatives of the University of Ryukyus in Japan presented the pair as a gift to the university in 2002.
Now, only one statue remains.
The statue was reported stolen between 5 p.m. Dec. 9 and 1 p.m. Dec. 18, 2011, MSU police Sgt. Florene Mcglothian-Taylor said.
It is valued at $3,000 and has been described as “irreplaceable” by those close to its history.
Milton Muelder, the garden’s namesake, died in March 2010.
The statue also was reported stolen in 2005, but was returned to its original location after an anonymous tip revealed it was in the top level of parking Ramp 2, located across the street from Shaw Hall.
The statue is important to the Muelder family and is a symbol of his contributions to the university and his relationship with the Japanese university, said Beth Muelder, Muelder’s widow.
“It’s not good as just one. They’re a pair,” Muelder said. “I don’t know what we’ll do (if it’s not found).”
After the statue allegedly was stolen and returned in 2005, it was firmly reattached to its base with cement, said Robert Schutzki, an associate professor with the Department of Horticulture and director of development for the arboretum.
“If we get it back, we’re going to do some other things in terms of mounting it to make it more secure,” Schutzki said. “We thought everything was fine, but apparently not.”
Eli Sullivan, a senior in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, said she would not be surprised if the alleged thief was a student.
“We do go to a drunken university. … Kids just want trophies,” Sullivan said. “If it was in a smaller community, it would be easier to (make it) seem like it wasn’t cool to do.”
Beth Muelder said she’s not concerned about who took it or what the motivations behind the alleged theft were, but she would just like it returned so it can continue being a centerpiece to the Japanese gardens.
“We’d just really like the piece back so that everybody can enjoy it (and) so everybody can understand more of Japan’s culture,” she said.
Staff writer Isabella Shaya contributed to this report.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
