Our Opinion: It is admirable that members of the University community are putting an effort into beautifying the campus.

While students hike across campus on a crisp fall afternoon, they can see the colors of leaves transition into bold shades of oranges and reds. Typically, the warm-and-fuzzy feeling only lasts for a minute, because their eyes then descend to the sights directly around them.

Here a brick. There a brick. Everywhere a brick brick.

Thankfully, a group of students gathered together Saturday for an event called “Color Explosion” and planted flowers around campus for all to enjoy.

It’s about time people take matters into their own hands. After all, the Princeton Review said we have the 17th ugliest campus in the nation. A few projects like these could turn all that around and land us a spot on the list of the nation’s prettiest campuses.

There’s not much we can do about all these bricks. The only two non-brick buildings on main campus are Harrelson and Poe Halls, which — let’s face it — aren’t exactly the most alluring pieces of architecture in the area.

But at least a few flowers here and there can give a splash of color to all that dried clay.

While you’re in the middle of a busy week with tests and papers piling up to no avail, would you rather gaze at the endless rows of bricks during your trek to class or stop and smell the roses?

Maybe this will put an end to the mindless littering. It’s much more difficult to toss your empty soda can onto a bed of beautiful blossoms than onto a muddy knoll with wiry weeds reaching for the light of day.

It’s nice to see students braving a wet, chilly Saturday to contribute something to the community when most were probably relaxing on the couch watching television.

So, while you’re on your way to class, instead of seeing the varying shades of reddish brown, you can enjoy the sights of purples and reds, thanks to a group that decided to spruce things up a bit.