The Office of the University Chaplain and Religious Life joined with several campus partners to host “Remember the Empty Chair: A COVID-19 Memorial Event” on Tuesday, April 6, and Wednesday, April 7, on Library Lawn.

The display memorialized those from around the world who have died due to COVID-19 or complications of COVID-19, and it honored the loved ones of Vanderbilt community members lost to the pandemic.

In addition, those whose lives have been touched by COVID-19 through job loss, business closure, loss of housing or any other adverse event were honored.

The display included 281 chairs, with each chair representing 10,000 deaths worldwide.

The Empty Chair COVID-19 memorial was set up on Library Lawn April 6 and 7.

The Empty Chair COVID-19 memorial on Library Lawn honored the lives lost and affected by the global pandemic.

Anish Raman walks through the COVID-19 memorial’s 281 chairs set up on Library Lawn in April 2021.

Each chair in the Empty Chair COVID-19 memorial on Library Lawn represented 10,000 deaths due to the pandemic.

The Empty Chair COVID-19 memorial on Library Lawn was organized by the Office of the University Chaplain and Religious Life.