Matthew Shepard vigil

Nearly 200 students and supporters gathered in Dunn Meadow to mourn the death of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, who died after being pistol-whipped, burned and tied to a fence post in Wyoming.

After the vigil, people crossed Seventh Street to sign notes of condolence at the GLBT Student Support Services office. Former President Myles Brand and former Dean of Students Dick McKaig stood among the supporters, a line that was several people deep.

"Obviously it was a time of very heightened awareness about violence against GLBT and all kinds of places were looking for ways to express concern, solidarity, support," McKaig said. "As much as anything else, it was just simply a way to show local GLBT students and others to express their concern and kind of affirm this was a welcoming and open community."