Columbia students and two organizations will be gathering in commemoration of those affected by the war in Afghanistan on Oct. 7.

The individuals will be participating in what is called a “Die-In” to honor the lives that have been lost in result of the war in Afghanistan. The event will take place in The Sculpture Garden at the corner of 11th Street and Wabash Avenue at 4 p.m.

Those attending are asked to bring white sheets, which they will place over themselves, as names of those who lost their lives over the course of the eight-year war are read aloud.  Following the reading of the individual names, volunteers will place red carnations on the people lying down.

The event is part of Columbia’s Critical Encounters: Fact and Faith program, which deals with how students take their beliefs and put them into action.

Eric Scholl, a television professor at Columbia, has participated in

various Die-Ins during the ’70s and ’80s, but this is his first regarding the Iraq and Afghanistan  wars.

“We want to bring attention to recognize the fact that civilians are dying,” Scholl said. “Despite how you feel about it, it is a very real thing, and this event is going to bring a very strong image to the streets.”

Scholl added that the event will not only be held to bring attention to those who have lost their lives, but also form a connection to the economic turmoil it has created in the U.S.

“The focus needs to be on the money for student scholarships, the possible MAP grant cuts … there’s a profound human cost, but there’s also an ongoing economic crisis that has actual impact in Chicago and right here at the college,” Scholl said.

Critical Encounters will be partnering with student group Artists-Activists at Columbia, an organization focused on creating change regarding social causes, cultural issues and environmental concerns through various forms of art.

“At a school like Columbia, I didn’t think that more traditional forms of activism like protests and rallies were the best way to do it because there are so many creative and talented people that can do such interesting things,” said Madelyn George, the group’s organizer. “It doesn’t matter what the political goals are, what the lobbying goals are—this will bring an emotional response. It brings the human cost home to people and makes it relatable and emotional for people who have no connection to it regardless of what their political beliefs are.”

Erin Polley, a former Columbia student and program associate for the American Friends Service Committee, a group working to end violence, participated in Middle Eastern Die-Ins for the past five years.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve held the Die-Ins at Federal Plaza to honor the lives lost in the Iraq war,” Polley said. “We usually did it around the International Day of Peace, but Oct. 7 is the eighth-year anniversary of the Afghan war so  we decided to put our focus on that this year.”