Ahead of Commencement and Reunion Weekend, a group of students, faculty and staff planted a garden near Brown’s Engineering Research Center to provide space for community members to reflect on the lives impacted by the Dec. 13, 2025, mass shooting on Brown’s campus.
Using compost made with flowers placed at temporary memorials across campus in the wake of the tragedy, a student-led team created the garden in mid-May. Senior Emilia Pantigoso, a student ambassador in the School of Engineering who co-led the project, said it was a powerful experience to collaborate with her peers, faculty, staff and members of Brown’s Facilities Management team to plant the garden.
“Working on it together, it was very healing,” Pantigoso said. “Such a wide variety of people were part of making this garden, and it was a beautiful thing that we could share.”
The garden was cultivated in coordination with the Brown Ever True whole-campus healing and recovery initiative, which is focused on bringing together resources, programming and services focused on mental health, psychological wellness and ensuring a strong sense of community in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“I think the most important thing is to continue to remember and honor the [impacted students’] lives and share their stories, and I hope that the garden provides a sense of remembrance, inspiration and healing more than anything,” Pantigoso said.
During Commencement and Reunion Weekend, Brown Ever True ribbons will be made available to all graduating students, returning alumni and guests, and people are invited to leave flowers or other items of remembrance at the garden, located at 345 Brook St. More information about the garden, additional reflection spaces and Brown Ever True resources are available on the Commencement website.