Tombstone is a rather chilling word.

And, when 310 symbolic tombstones were placed on the Bibb Graves Quad at Troy University Thursday, the Cemetery of the Innocents was a chilling site for many who stopped to inquire about the cardboard tombstones.

The Cemetery of the Innocents was a project of the members of Troy Students for Life, a pro-life campus organization.

“Each one of the tombstones represents 10 children who are killed every day by abortions,” said Courtney Brown, a Troy Students for Life member. “Every day 3,700 babies are aborted. That’s more than one million babies that die each year by abortion.”

Half of all pregnancies are unplanned and 37 percent of those are terminated through abortion.

“The Cemetery of the Innocents is here to make people more aware of the thousands of babies are aborted every day,” Brown said.

“A surprising number of people who stopped to talk with us said they didn’t know that abortions are legal. What we are hoping to do is let students know that there are other options for an unplanned pregnancy than abortion.”

According, to Feminists for Life, college women who have unplanned pregnancies are often faced with the decision of whether to sacrifice their babies for an education or sacrifice their educations for their babies, Brown said.

“And less than one percent of babies of unplanned pregnancies are adopted,” she said.

“But adoption is an option for unplanned pregnancies and adoption does not have to have a negative connotation. Adoption can be beneficial to the baby and the parents as well.”

Jacob Holmes, Troy Students for Life vice president and organizer of Cemetery of the Innocents, said the purpose and mission of Students for Life is to let those who are dealing with unplanned pregnancies know that abortion is not the only choice.

“Adoption is an option as is attending parenting classes that will provide direction and support in the decision to parent the baby,” he said.

“Students for Life wants to help those who are dealing with unplanned pregnancies make informed decisions.”

Troy Students for Life has about 20 members, several of whom attended the March for Life in Washington D.C. in January. The Troy Students for Life organization was named the New Group of the Week by the National Students for Life and received a $500 donation.