A place of reflection, a place to remember those in the University community who have passed away -- this is what Student Council members hope the new student memorial now standing in the Clemons garden will provide for University students.
The recently-opened memorial is meant to honor students who have passed away during their time at the University and to provide a quiet place of contemplation for students to reflect and remember their peers.
"Before the memorial was built, if a student passed away there wasn't a place that symbolized a student's life here and in the community they were part of," Student Council President Lauren Tilton said. "The memorial is a place of quiet reflection where one can remember and reflect on, with joy, a friend's life and their contribution to the University."
The need for such a place was recognized in early 2005 by Tom Gibson, a 2006 graduate of the College, after reflecting on deaths that had occurred recently in the University community.
"We wanted to figure out better ways for students who wanted a central gathering place where people could have events, [a place] that could serve as a park area for people to remember those types of events," Gibson said.
Using his position as a College representative on Student Council, Gibson proposed such a memorial in 2005 and began work on plans for the memorial. According to Gibson, during his time at the University he worked to raise money through the Parents Program, Newcomb Hall and Student Council itself. Gibson also worked on the memorial's design with University Landscaper Helen Wilson, then-Architecture student Mary Hughes and other students of the Architecture School.
"What they had in mind was a contemplative space, and that's what you see now," Wilson said.
She added that the design enables students to have a place to "accommodate a small gathering, a place where one could leave a wreath ... its location in a garden provides a place of peaceful contemplation."
Gibson graduated before the memorial plan was approved, but Student Council has continued to work on the project, ensuring its completion. The memorial consists of stepping stones as well as a place for student to sit down. In the spring, the area will be landscaped further to include flowers and trees, Wilson said.
According to Gibson, the structure of the memorial is rich with meaning.
"Everything that is part of design has a meaning." Gibson said. "The stepping stones coming together [symbolize] the community coming together in tie like this."
According to Victoria Ingenito, director of University relations for Student Council, there will be a dedication ceremony for the memorial after the landscaping, as well as construction in the area, is complete in the spring.
Gibson says he hopes it will become a special place in the University.
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