Student Protests Erupt In Colleges Across U.S.

Across the country, college students have reacted to news from the Middle East by stepping up the protests that began earlier this week. At many universities, students had prearranged meetings for the advent of war.

At Duke University in North Carolina, the Duke Coalition for Peace in the Middle East has headed down to the main post office for a protest, according to Beau K. Dure, managing editor of The Chronicle.

"All the perceptions that we've gotten are that students are against the war," Dure said. "There has not been a pro-war backlash yet."

At Northwestern university in Evanston, Illinois a poll performed by the Northwestern student newspaper on Monday indicated that 51% of students were against the war, according to Stephen V. Benzkoffen, editor in chief.

"Students have been verbally against the war,' Benzkoffen said. "A lot, probably a majority, have been interested but undecided."

Benzkoffen said that there was discussion of a student strike within the student government, but that nothing had yet been decided.

At the University of California at Berkeley, a hot-bed of protest during the Vietnam War, there has been no organized student action because the school is not back in session, said Cedric O, Pleston, managing editor of The Daily California.

"There is not yet a focal point for students because we are not back in session," Pleston said.

Nonetheless, some students have joined with community activists staging a demonstration in downtown San Fransisco.

"There was standing plan to meet in San Fransisco as soon as war was declared," Pleston said. "There is also an on going protest at the subway station."