Students crowded around the large television screen in the HUB-Robeson Center yesterday to hear Secretary of State Colin Powell present the intelligence evidence he said the United States has against Iraq.

The much-anticipated speech before the United Nations Security Council was intended to convince the member states, and the world, that Iraq was not complying with U.N. resolutions requiring the Middle Eastern state to disarm.

Powell presented satellite photographs, taped conversations between Iraqi officials and models of possible mobile weapons facilities to prove the American position that Saddam Hussein is in possession of weapons of mass destruction.

The evidence presented was circumstantial, and different sides of the debate are likely to read it in different ways, said D. Scott Bennett, associate professor of political science.

"There's no smoking gun evidence," he said.

Students who watched the speech had mixed opinions on Powell's words. Though many said they are worried about the alleged weapons Iraq possesses, some students disagree as to whether it is reason enough to go to war.

Kevin Razawich (sophomore-engineering) said he has supported military action against Iraq for some time because of the reports of Iraqi weapons stockpiles.

"Hearing the report on whether or not [Iraq] has chemical weapons, I am for moving in and disarming," he said.

But Razawich said he does not expect the majority of Americans, or the rest of the world, to be convinced by Powell's speech.

Razawich cited talk of a possible draft and the deployment of college students as a reason he believes college-aged people would continue to oppose war.

Gwen Altman (senior-psychology), who opposes war, said she sees the situation being fueled more by the oil issue than by the weapons Iraq might have.

Altman said the speech left out many issues pertaining to the conflict, and that it blamed only Iraq for the current problems, leaving out American actions that have made Iraq dislike America.

"It was very one-sided," she said.

But despite her aversion to military action and questioning of American motives, Altman said the evidence Powell presented does worry her. The fact that Iraq may have weapons of mass destruction makes her worry about American safety, she said.

She said she hopes Iraq can be disarmed with the least amount of bloodshed possible.

Vonn Waterman (senior-electrical engineering) also watched the speech. As a member of the National Guard, he has an extra stake in the events Powell's speech could put into motion.

Waterman said he has mixed feelings about whether a military action is a legitimate way to deal with the conflict, because he does not see noncompliance with the U.N. resolutions as reason enough to go to war.

"If they actually use weapons, that's a different story," Waterman said.

Collegian staff writer Matt Eyer contributed to this report.