As the United States nears invasion of Iraq, the prospect of war is beginning to trickle into most everyone's lives in the Penn State community.

Though the Penn State fencing team is trying to limit distractions as it zeroes in on defending its national championship, it will inevitably be confronted with the grim reality that America is at war when the team arrives this weekend at the U.S. Air Force Academy, the site of this year's NCAA Championships.

Despite the outbreak of war at any moment, the championships will continue as scheduled, Penn State fencing coach Emmanuil Kaidanov said.

Though the location of the championships will remain the same, the atmosphere is expected to be much different than in years past.

Junior Nonpatat Panchan, who hails from Bangkok, Thailand, expects heightened airport and Academy security.

"Right now, I don't think it's really hit us yet," Panchan said, "because we're still focused on this weekend. I think after we arrive there [at the NCAA Championships], it might be a little bit of a distraction ... It's going to be a very strict environment."

Panchan said that those interested in attending the championships who have not made prior arrangements may experience difficulty when trying to enter the building -- and some fans may be turned away altogether.

German native Alex Weber indicated that the realization that America is in the midst of a war might have set in as early as last night's flight to the Air Force Academy. As the team's captain, Weber will play a vital role in helping the team to maintain its focus while on the fencing strips.

"I think we try to isolate it so that we don't get too distracted by it," he said.

For senior Amir Rahimi, the U.S.-Iraq war is a little more than a stone's throw away from his homeland, Iran, where he has been on the national team for 11 years.

Fortunately for Rahimi, his concerns for the welfare of his family will be assuaged since their home is surrounded by Iran's mountainous terrain.

Though he and his family are somewhat removed from the U.S.-Iraq conflict, Rahimi still worries about the loss of life in the region, fearing casualties like that of the Iran-Iraq war. Between 1980 and 1988, 100,000 Iranian soldiers lost their lives, 20,000 of which were students, Rahimi said. "My country lost a lot of educated people, a lot of professors and a lot of leaders," he said.

The same could happen to many Americans and Iraqis in the coming months.