Last night, a vigil was held in Red Square in remembrance of people who died in the Virgina Tech shootings.

As many as 200 people gathered in the center of the square to pay their respects to the victims, their families and the Virginia Tech community. A number of people lit candles in memory of the lives lost Monday.

ASUW President Cullen White and Director of Community Relations Sam E. Al-Khoury started the vigil with a few words of rememberance for the Virgina Tech victims, as well as for Rebecca Griego, who was killed on campus three weeks ago.

Emphasis was also placed on student unity and the importance of solidarity among students throughout the nation.

"We are here because we are students, and because it could have been our campus," Al-Khoury said.

He also said it was important to maintain a discourse about safety on campus, and to address the issue of violence.

A minute of silence provided time for reflection on the recent shootings.

As members of the UW community bowed their heads in silence, the bells from Denny Hall tolled 33 times, in memory of each life lost in the Virginia massacre.

The vigil was of great importance to the many who came to pay their respects.

"I am here tonight because I think it was a tragedy, and we should all take the time to stop and reflect on what happened, and also think about how it can be prevented from ever happening again," junior Leanne Carland said.

Graduate Professional Student Senate officer Yutaka Jono also felt that it was important to attend the vigil.

"This is something that has affected all of us, especially so soon after Rebecca Griego was killed on our own campus," he said. "Hopefully people won't focus on this as an issue and will recognize that mental illness can happen to anyone."

Campus safety was certainly an issue for many students.

"From an international perspective, it made me think about how lenient the gun laws are here in the States," said Maxine Bulloch, an exchange student from the U.K. "The events at Virgina Tech have seriously made me question my own safety."

Al-Khoury said he was very pleased with how the vigil went.

"I think that this is a very important part of the healing process," he said. "It's very important for people to come together and understand that they are not alone, and that there is a strong community here. I was really surprised and impressed by the

turnout here this evening."

Reach reporter Jessalin Fraser at news@thedaily.washington.edu.