The sign that hangs on the makeshift tent outside the Allen Street gates has become a motto for the war protesters holding vigil: "Please stop and talk -- any opinion is better than none."

Flowers, burning candles and handwritten signs show constant support for U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians.

The tent has been a constant reminder of the war since it began last Wednesday.

Members of the The Streets Project, a group protesting war in Iraq, began stationing themselves there 24 hours a day to keep dialogue about the war going, said Monica Antonazzo (senior-women's studies), a member of the group.

Protesters sit in hour increments on lawn chairs and rubber mats. They do homework and talk to one another and to students passing by. A sign asking for money or toy donations to be sent to refugee camps decorates the tent.

The vigil began with a few members of The Streets Project and has since grown to include students and State College residents, Antonazzo said. Anyone can stop to sign up to keep the vigil going, and about 100 people have agreed to participate so far, she added.

Though most people ignore the display, many stop to talk to those sitting there, Antonazzo said.

"People will say that even if they don't agree [with war protests], they think what we're doing takes courage and dedication," she said.

The dialogue created by their demonstration is the most important thing, Antonazzo said. Talking to people is the best way to increase understanding and really develop opinions, she said.

"People constantly protest the wrongs that are in existence -- the only way you make a difference is to take a stand and educate yourselves," Antonazzo said.

Clara Brasseur, a part-time student participating in the protest, said she agrees dialogue is the most important part of the demonstration. The fact that the protest is unconventional and does not display any politically offensive material helps to increase that dialogue, Brasseur said.

"Nothing anyone says will change my opinion, but it helps to understand the situation more -- this isn't a black and white problem," she said.

Dave De Rubeis (senior-landscape contracting management) was not participating in the protest but said he agrees with the group's exercise of free speech.

"Our country is here because everyone has the freedom to speak out," De Rubeis said.

People on television and those with public exposure have the ability to express their opinions all the time, De Rubeis said. The protesters should have the same ability, he added.

Though many support the demonstration despite conflicting political beliefs, some people walking or driving by shout things like "kill them all" or "bomb them all," Antonazzo said.

Saturday, a drunk man stopped, started screaming at the protesters, and began a shoving match with his friends when they tried to pull him away, Antonazzo said. The protesters contacted Penn State Police Services, who came to break up the fight, she said.

University police have also been sending officers by to check on the demonstrators regularly, police supervisor Dwight Smith said. They have also contacted the demonstrators to let them know to call police services if they feel threatened in any way, Smith said.

"We're concerned about anyone's safety on the property of the university," he said.

As far as people shouting rude or obscene things at the protesters, nothing can be done, Smith said.

"As [the protesters] have a right to free speech, so do the people that walk or drive by," he said.