A university staff member, who did not want to be named, said they believed students damaged the artwork Pathways by climbing on it.
The circular bases on the statues in the work were unable to hold the weight of the climbers and were being replaced with stronger square bases.
Cones and barriers surrounded a sculpture with a square base yesterday.
However Chief Operating Officer Stephen Willis said in a statement this afternoon there was another explanation.
"Students have not damaged a $500,000 artwork on campus, and neither has anyone else.
"We believe a young male took some cones and ‘tiger tails’ from Union Street Bridge and placed them around one of the five figures, at night. There is no evidence to show whether this male was a student or not.
"There are no plans to alter the bases of the statues."
The work, by sculptor Dr Paul Dibble, was given to the university by the Stuart Residence Halls Council to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
The $500,000 artwork, which stands up to 3.2m tall, was unveiled by university chancellor John Ward in November.
The work was installed at the junction of Union Walk and Castle Walk, between the union lawn and Clocktower Building.
The work includes five figures and a cross, modelled on the national emblem of Scotland, the St Andrew's cross.
The university was unable to comment on the situation at the weekend.
