After the death of several students over the past year, a number of campus leaders have expressed the desire to plant a tree near the HUB-Robeson Center in memory of those who have passed away.

In addition to the tree planting, a plaque listing the names of the deceased students would be presented at the memorial service.

On Wednesday, however, William Asbury, vice president of student affairs, sent an e-mail to Undergraduate Student Government President Justin Zartman, which Zartman said indicated the event seemed unlikely.

While Asbury said the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments and the Office of the Physical Plant showed no signs of support for the memorial, Lyndsey Bowen, CCSG public relations chair, said CCSG officers still support the measure and that it was received favorably when presented to the group.

The nondenominational service held by the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs was the university's response to the deaths, but after so many tragic events this year, students need something else. And it appears as though a lack of communication between ad-ministrators and those involved in planning the memorial is creating more red tape than necessary, delaying the process.

Some administrators might have concerns that a plaque listing the names of students who have passed away might unintentionally exclude other deceased students whose deaths were not widely known. If this is indeed a concern, perhaps student leaders could simply plant a tree or have the memorial dedicated to all students who passed away during the school year, without listing names.

Student leaders are not asking for university money; they, along with other members of the university community, will contribute the funds.

In short, this memorial is not something that should be difficult for the university to do. The red tape should be kept to a minimum. University administrators and student leaders need to come together to make this memorial happen and to honor the students, classmates and friends we have lost this year.