Far from its usual quiet and studious atmosphere, Houston Hall's lobby was filled with posters, a large-screen TV, photographs and a crowd of talkative students wearing peace armbands last night.
The students -- many of whom were members of event sponsors Penn for Peace and Penn Students Against War in Iraq -- stood, sat and crouched in front of the televisions throughout the evening, waiting to see what would happen when the 48-hour period set Monday by President Bush for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq lapsed.
And when the final seconds ticked off the clock, those gathered began to voice their opinions.
Engineering freshman Noura Selim expressed concern about the then-impending war.
"I just think that the decision to go to war will be very costly," she said. "The whole world is kind of against it."
College junior Sarah Stiles said that she was worried about the war, but believes it will end quickly.
"I think that it is not going to have much impact on the U.S.," Stiles said.
College freshman Jennifer Stutsman added that she "didn't really feel that there was any chance that Hussein would have left Iraq," explaining that Bush's ultimatum made the war inevitable.
Stutsman, a PSAWI member who helped organize the event, said that the goal was "to form a safe space where people feel comfortable to talk" and engage in anti-war dissent together.
The area was decorated with photographs taken in Iraq, select quotes from political figures, posters bearing the names of countries that oppose the war, informational literature and a huge sign displaying an American flag and the slogan "Peace is Patriotic."
Students remained in Houston Hall throughout the evening, watching the news for updated information and discussing the situation with one another.
Representatives from PSAWI and Penn for Peace plan to stay stationed in Houston Hall 24 hours a day through Friday, if not later. They will take alternating shifts, sleeping there and leaving only to attend classes.
"It's a foregone conclusion that war is happening probably by tomorrow morning," Stutsman said prior to Bush's address to the nation. "We will probably attack in Baghdad during the night."
College junior Spencer Witte, a PSAWI spokesman, also noted that war "is looking fairly imminent" as he awaited news of military action.
Witte recently traveled to Iraq for a week in January to attend an academic conference held at Baghdad University, where he established relationships with Iraqi students. He still communicates with them by e-mail and said that they are "scared to death."
"I am objecting to a war that I think is unjust," Witte said. "The Bush administration has not convinced me that a combined policy of containment and deterrence would have effectively neutralized whatever threat Iraq might have posed."
Stutsman echoed Witte, saying that she does not think that the war is necessary and that the "diplomatic methods were working... slowly."
"This will be a potentially bloody conflict on both sides," Witte said, adding that the $400 billion military budget of the U.S. will be up against Iraq's $1.4 billion budget.
However, despite her anti-war stance, Stutsman stressed that she supports American troops.
"Now that we're going to war, it's important for everyone to support U.S. armed forces," Stutsman said.
But while showing her support, she will also "continue to show dissent."
Witte agreed with Stutsman, saying, "We are as concerned about the U.S. military needlessly putting themselves in harm's way as we are about Iraqi civilian lives."
"This is not the first or the last war," Witte added. "It is about defining future policies as much as it is about stopping a war."
