Charles Nailen/The Hoya Protestors endure the rainy weather to voice their disapproval of the war on Iraq in front of the White House Thursday afternoon.

Even before President Bush declared that the U.S. would exact a “decisive victory” against Saddam Hussein, Georgetown University students were mobilizing to make their own voices heard. GU Peace Action gathered in Red Square Wednesday evening to begin what is intended to be at least a three-day sleep-in in opposition to the war.

Almost exactly 48 hours after Bush delivered his ultimatum to Hussein, nearly 30 students gathered outside to protest American attacks against Iraq. Armed with sleeping bags, tents and radios, they chatted among themselves, banged on drums and sang along with a guitar in defiance of the chilly weather and what they consider an “unjustified war.”

“We’re not against all war, but this war specifically is unprovoked . We don’t want to see American soldiers dying for a war that’s unjust,” GU Peace Action member and HOYA columnist Shadi Hamid (SFS ’05) said. “For a lot of us, being American means dissenting.”

Student response to the initiation of the ground war, however, was not limited to anti-war sentiment. Shortly afterwards, students began posting pro-war flyers in Red Square with slogans like “Give War A Chance.”

“Saddam Hussein is not your typical run-of-the-mill dictator from LSE or U. of Moscow – he was educated as a thug, has come to power and has shown he is capable of making disastrous miscalculations,” Murphy Gallagher (COL ’06), director of communications for GU College Republicans, said. “Yes, the horrible part of war is that innocent civilian and American lives will be lost, but it will be far less than lives lost under one year in his reign. A man with ties to terrorism is a threat to the world, a threat to country and the majority of Americans believe he’s gotta go.”

The latest polls taken by the Gallup organization indicate that nearly two-thirds of the American public approve of Bush’s decision to go to war. Georgetown’s anti-war contingent, however, has had a more visible presence.

“The anti-war movement is often marginalized in this country; people around the world should know that American people are coming out against it,” Sonia Makhi (SFS ’05) said. “This war in particular is protruding a world opinion of America being a monster . They [people around the world] don’t realize that the American left exists and that we’re shouting that we don’t support this war.”

While nearly all students are in support of the right to protest, some question the value of the specific sleep-in.

“I think since today Congress came united and came behind the President to present a united front, if they [GU Peace Action] wanted to change foreign policy at this point, they have to talk to their congressmen because they all voted today to support the war,” Hank Hattemer (COL ’06) said. “The protesters should lobby congress and not campus.”

The sleep-in is planned to last at least three days, and perhaps more, depending on how the events in the Middle East unfold, Hamid said. The protestors hope that their constant 24-hour presence will make a lasting statement about their stand on the war.

“So many of us have been protesting the war in the days leading up to this and if we give up now, that just means that we don’t believe,” Singapore native Diana Lane (COL ’04) said. “A lot of us at Peace Action have different justifications for why we’re here, but we all believe the war is wrong.”

The participants of the sleep-in maintain that the university administration has been extremely cooperative in facilitating the event, especially in coordinating with outside media. Wednesday evening, for instance, there were at least three television cameras from networks such as Fox News.

Although inclement weather hindered GU Peace Action’s planned walk-out from classes and the corresponding counter-protest, several students still traveled down to the Mall to convey their dissatisfaction with the administration’s actions. GU College Republicans said that short notice, in addition to work on bringing prominent speakers to campus, prevented the counter protest.

“Right now, whatever side you take in this war, you have an obligation to get behind the troops 100 percent,” Gallagher said.

Diplomat John Brown, the second member of the Bush administration to resign due to frustration with foreign policy, spoke at Georgetown Thursday afternoon as well.