As war became a reality last night, Penn State student leaders reflected on their reactions to the military strike and what it might mean for Penn State.

Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President Rubina Javeri said the campus is bracing for what will happen in Iraq.

Javeri hopes there will not be a backlash on campus against people of Middle Eastern descent.

"I think that students and faculty and administrators should take this time to have discussions," she added.

Chris Miller, chairman of Penn State College Republicans, said Bush did not say anything that surprised him in his address to the nation.

"He just seems to be holding the same position he has held all along and hasn't really wavered from it," he said.

Roger Stahl, member of The Streets Project, a student group that has held several war protests on campus, said he was disappointed that diplomatic efforts with Iraq failed. He remained hopeful, however.

"Because the war has started and people couldn't prevent it, [protesting may] seem kind of hopeless. I guess there's a little of that, but at the same time it's just the beginning in this series of conflicts," Stahl said.

Stahl said no protesting efforts are wasted.

"Wars get started when good people stay silent," he said.

Alicia Turner, president of the College Democrats, said her biggest concern is for the U.S. soldiers and the innocent civilians of Baghdad.

"I think we were all hoping there could have been a positive outcome beneficial to all parties without endangering our soldiers' lives or the Iraqi people," she said.

Chris Martinez, another member of The Streets Project, said it was important for Bush to make clear what was going on but is disappointed the war went forward.

"It is very unfortunate that it has come to this, that the administration has failed in its diplomacy and that it is in the process of doing something disastrous to global stability in general," Martinez added.