At 2 a.m. yesterday, just hours after President Bush announced that the ground war was underway, Cynde Smith's telephone rang.

The caller was Smith's husband, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jeff Smith, stationed in Saudi Arabia. The ground war had begun and Smith was preparing to, as he calls it, "go to work." He is a medical technician who assists in the evacuation of wounded and ill soldiers from Saudi Arabia to hospitals in Germany and Great Britain.

Cynde Smith, coordinator of the Boalsburg Family Support Group, also went to work. Early Sunday she contacted each of the eight families in her group.

"In one sense, (hearing about the ground war) was a relief because we all see it as being one step closer to home for them," she said.

She said some of the families have relatives stationed in the front lines who probably entered Kuwait in the early stages of the ground war.

While troops continued to advance toward Kuwait City yesterday and members of area support groups made frantic calls to one another, University students expressed a variety of reactions to the latest phase of the allied offensive.

Charles Heo (freshman-communications) said the Iraqis had several chances to avoid a destructive ground war.

"We gave them their chance, and they didn't take it," he said.

Robert Tifft, president of the Middle East Culture Club, said he felt the ground war was inevitable since the allied bombing began Jan. 17.

"It's not something we want to have happen," he said. "Unfortunately, there are lives at stake, but . . . it's the price you have to pay."

Peace advocates viewed the beginning of the ground war as another decision in a long line of political mistakes.

Elton Atwater, a member of State College's Alternates to War Committee, said, "This is a war that did not have to happen. A further dependence on economic sanctions would have accomplished our objective."

Jennifer Barrett (junior-psychology) said she has a friend -- a Marine -- stationed on a ship in the Persian Gulf.

"I'm for the soldiers, but I'm against the war," she said. "I expected (a ground war), but I was still scared."

Darren McPhilimy, co-founder of American Dreamer -- a recently formed anti-war group -- said the United States' predetermination of a date to begin the ground war sealed the fate of the Soviet Union's attempts to negotiate.

"I think this shows the peace proposal by the Soviets never had a chance," he said, adding that he believes the Bush administration and allied nations were "rushing toward war before peace broke out."

But many students supported the United States' action, saying it was justified.

James Gardner (graduate-art history) said he believes United States must act as a world watchdog, policing disputes such as the one that erupted in the Middle East.

"I'm supportive of any measures the U.S. government takes," he said, adding he is "sorry there will be losses of lives on both sides."

Local anti-war groups plan to hold an "emergency demonstration" at noon today on the steps of Pattee. The protesters say they object to Bush's decision to send ground troops into combat.

McPhilimy said it is time for peace activists to go on the "offensive." At a recent anti-war rally he urged University students to adopt a daily routine to demonstrate their peacefulness.

"I ask you to go to class everyday and be prepared for each day's assignments. But let your classmates know that you support peace," he said. "Wear a peace button, be seen posting flyers on the classroom wall. When roll is called or when you answer a question, raise the peace sign."

Concern for men and women in the gulf prompted many State College residents to phone the military's hotlines. However, Cynde Smith suggested that members of her group not call the 800-numbers.

"They're basically unuseful," she said. "You certainly don't want to learn by 800-number that your husband is wounded."

Cynde Smith said her husband expected casualties to begin arriving at his post within a few hours after he called her. Jeff Smith helped deliver combat casualties after the recent skirmish in Khafji, Saudi Arabia. Although her husband is not permitted to discuss his mission, he has expressed his sentiments in letters home, she said.

"He's sick of sand. He never wants to see it again," she said. "I told him we were going to the beach when he gets home; he didn't like that."