Hundreds of State College residents are expected to join anti-war protests tomorrow in Washington, D.C. The event is expected to see a turnout similar to the estimated 150,000 people that attended an Oct. 26 rally in the nation's capital.

A group called International A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) is chiefly responsible for organizing the marches. Protesters are to assemble at 11 a.m. for an opening rally on the west side of the Capitol Building before marching to the Washington Navy Yard.

"Students' educational funding is being cut, their loans and scholarships are being cut, and all that money is going towards a war that they don't want," said Tony Murphy, spokesman for International A.N.S.W.E.R. "This makes students one of the most vital parts of this demonstration."

Murphy said the marches are efforts to stop the war and increase momentum of the anti-war movement.

"The Bush administration, while obviously determined to go to war, is also nervous about the anti-war movement," Murphy said. "If they weren't nervous, they wouldn't be moving so quickly. We think it's not too late to stop the war."

Demonstrators will listen to a number of distinguished speakers, including former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Ron Kovic, a Vietnam veteran and author of Born on the Fourth of July.

Tessa Gross (junior-recreation parks management) and Shannon Daniel (junior-English) organized buses to transport Penn State students and other interested community members to the event. The two attended the protests in October and, inspired by the enthusiasm of the thousands of other participants, decided to become a part of the January marches.

"It's a big blow to the Iraqi people," Gross said about the possible war with Iraq. "I know Saddam is evil and all that stuff, but people forget that there are actual civilians there. I don't think that violence is the answer to anything."

"Teach-ins" were held yesterday at Penn State to inform people who are curious about lesser-known details of the Iraqi conflict and to give them a chance to purchase bus tickets.

"There were 14 professors that spoke on why we shouldn't go to war with Iraq," Gross said. "They gave out facts on the situation that maybe people didn't know about. The teach-in was the deciding factor for me to go to the last rally."

Daniel described the October rally as "a celebration of life."

"It's like you feel the passion in your heart grow because there are so many people around you, and despite whatever differences you might have otherwise, you all feel the same way about this one thing," Daniel said.

Some students are undecided about their position on the possible war.

"In terms of the protests, they have the right to protest whatever they want. I have no problem with them going down there," said David Kowalski (sophomore-finance). "There are too many variables for me personally to say whether we should be going to war or not."

Buses will leave at 6 a.m. tomorrow from the stop across from The Student Bookstore, 330 E. College Ave., and return at 10 p.m.

Anyone wishing to sign up for the trip can e-mail Daniel at smd252@psu.edu by 1 p.m. today.