Saint Louis University Pax Christi facilitated and organized the die-in held on campus March 20, but not all who participated were Pax Christi members, nor do they all subscribe to the views held by Pax Christi International. As was intended by organizers, students could die-in for a variety of personal reasons. Following the die-in, Pax Christi asked participants to put into words their reasons for participating. Responses are as follows:

“My motivation for the die-in was … simply to honor and remember all those who have perished in the war in Iraq. I participated with the utmost respect for the troops. I have more than a handful of friends who are in the military right now-I support the troops 110 percent-and I pray that I never have to see one of their names on one of those tombstones.”
Erin Beecher, freshman

“My motivation for participating in the die-in was to help remind everyone that we are at war, and that with war comes death. It was also a personal time of reflection so I could get an idea of the inconvenience and discomfort that the war has brought upon Iraqi individuals and families.”
Stephen Dienger, junior, social work student

“I participated in the die-in because of my best friend, Shad Hovdenes. He’s been over in Iraq for almost a year and a half-he’s 20 years old. I died-in so people had to remember that there are soldiers over there losing their lives-physically, emotionally and spiritually. I want an end to the suffering that is going on there, I want peace and I want people affected by this war to be able to see beauty again.”
Kristin Swanson, freshman, SLU Pax Christi member

“I participated in the die-in last week. My motivation for participating was to remind myself and others that the casualty figures from the war are more than just numbers. Whether American or Iraqi, every person that has died in this conflict is a person who once had a family and friends and dreams and passions. The die-in was a vivid reminder to me and, I hope, to the SLU community that the war does have a human face, a face that must be considered when making decisions about America’s future in Iraq.”
Charity Kaiser, sophomore, College of Arts and Sciences

“‘Dying’ on SLU’s campus was a way of reminding our community and the United States that, if we don’t want to see the war, we don’t have to. However, the people in Iraq live the war, and ‘dying’ raises awareness to those who have died, whether it be soliders, insurgents or civilians.”
Lauren Trout, sophomore

“I participated in the die-in last week to put a face to the American and Iraqi death tolls we read in the morning paper, and to encourage my apathetic peers to consider the issue. My actions made absolutely no commentary on pulling out of Iraq or cutting funding for the war.”
Mike McMahon, senior

“I died-in to pray for and to mourn the dead. Although this action did not cost me much-it was a grotesquely little sacrifice in comparison-I did it in the desire for the grace to know something of the suffering of others, to bridge a divide between the violence taking place halfway around the world and our campus.”
Anonymous

“Two friends of mine in the military endured miserable conditions during their first tours of Iraq, and they are preparing to return. I participated because I am terrified they will die for a war that has been morally and legally unjustified since its inception.”
Sean Toole, S.J., student in College of Philosophy and Letters, member of Amnesty International

“My motivation for participating in the die-in was to raise awareness for myself and others on campus of the situation in Iraq. Specifically, as representing someone who has died, I want to show respect and call to the person who has lost their life. Also, to call others to question the sacrifice this person made, how and why they made that sacrifice. Furthermore, the effect of that sacrifice.”
Elizabeth Driscoll, junior, Pax Christi member