When Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the charges against American Tailban fighter John Walker on Jan. 15, much of America was stunned.

Instead of being charged with treason as many had expected, Walker has been charged with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals outside of the United States, providing material support and resources to terrorist organizations, and engaging in prohibited transactions with the Taliban.

Rather than facing the penalty of death that accompanies treason, the maximum sentence Walker can receive is life in prison.

"Anytime you have someone facing up to life incarceration, it is a serious sentence," said John Kramer, professor of sociology and crime, law and justice.

Life imprisonment, however, is a punishment that is too lenient in the eyes of some.

"I think they should execute him," said Justin Sabo (senior-industrial engineering). "Anyone that takes up arms against the United States should be put to death."

Other students agreed.

"I think he should face treason because he was going against the American way," said Matt Sowers (sophomore-mechanical engineering). "But if they cannot prove treason, then he should not be put to death."

According to a Dec. 19 Gallup poll, a near majority of Americans do not believe that Walker should be executed.

The poll, which surveyed 1,019 American adults, found that 47 percent believe Walker should be imprisoned for his crimes against the United States, while 22 percent believe he should be executed for treason. About 3 percent believe that Walker should be released.

"He was a United States citizen fighting for the Taliban," said Chad Smith (sophomore-elementary education). "But I do not think he deserves to be executed."

Proving Walker guilty of treason would be no small task. In order to be found guilty, the United States would have to prove Walker attempted to overthrow the U.S. government by aiding the Taliban.

Walker, who is being detained on the USS Bataan, might be returning to the United States within the next week, officials said on Saturday.

Walker has been in U.S. custody since his capture during a prison uprising that began on Nov. 25 in Mazar-e Sharif. The uprising resulted in the death of CIA agent Johnny Michael Spann.