The next day, she said, she awoke to find empty ice-cream tubs at her door, with a note that gave the "strawberry a C-and the chocolate an A+."

Manley's friends said he was a gifted writer who had considered majoring in writing. He had been a staff writer for Counterpoint, an MIT-Wellesley publication.

Additionally, he was talented in mathematics.

"He helped me with my calculus problem sets. He would tell me everyday that I will pass calculus. I did," Camille said.

Robert M. Randolph, the MIT senior associate dean of students for undergraduate affairs, also spoke at the service.

Randolph said that although Manley's friends and family still did not know exactly why he decided to end his life, he added that "today, I understand better the circumstances of Michael's death."

"We know that for a number of young gay people, the struggle for identity and acceptance leads to a significant amount of suicide attempts, a large number of which are successful," Randolph said.

"We know that even in an accepting environments, coming out is hard to do," he said.

Manley had attended meetings of the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students at MIT (GAMIT). Students who knew Manley through GAMIT told The Crimson earlier this week that Manley had been depressed.

Randolph said that another memorial service will be held in Manley's honor "when the weather gets warmer."

Alluding to Manley's love for ice cream and for a certain type of flower, Randolph said: "We'll come together, grade the ice-cream, and plant large pots of geraniums, and watch them grow."

Manley died Saturday afternoon after a fall from the 14th floor of his high-rise dormitory. Though he was rushed to Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

MIT administrators have set up a hot line to counsel students and have put an MIT dean on special call if students have any concerns, according to a news release.

Manley was originally from Tempe, Ariz.