An anti-Bush statement from a member of the Dixie Chicks has not dramatically affected the group's airtime on local airwaves, according to some stations.

Local radio stations and community audiences are instead focusing on supporting troops fighting in the Middle East, for the time being.

Lead singer Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks publicly spoke out against President Bush at a recent concert in London, and some music stations around the nation, in response to angry listeners, banned the trio from their airwaves.

Local country station WFGY-FM (98.1) has taken a different course of action.

"We had a lot of mixed opinions when Natalie of the Dixie Chicks made her remarks," said Donna Dunkel, program director for Froggy 98. "We did not boycott them or ban them from our station. But people were so angry about the whole thing, so we offered a weekend long protest, where we did not play any Dixie Chicks music at all, for those who wanted to show their support to the troops. "

Top 40-station WBHV-FM (103.1) has also decided not to ban the group from their airwaves, and instead is focused on increasing war coverage for listeners.

"We have had people express concern for the Dixie Chicks, but the polls we get show that although the majority of people don't approve of what they said, they still like the songs and want to hear them," said Keith Allen, program director and afternoon host for Beaver 103.

Allison Graham (sophomore-psychology) expressed mixed feelings about the Dixie Chicks' recent comments.

"I was disappointed in the Dixie Chicks and I think they were very disrespectful, but they are still great artists," Graham said. "It changes how I view them on a personal level, but it won't change how I view them on an artistic level. Refusing to play their songs or not carrying their CD is persecuting them for their opinions -- that's something that's not supposed to happen in America."

Rebecca Seidel (freshman-comparative literature) said she does not think any artist should be condemned for voicing an opinion.

"It's dangerous when people who say what others don't want to hear are criticized for it," Seidel said.

"Everyone has that right to say what they believe," she said.

But if consumers who feel differently are heavily boycotting artists based on their political views, it has not yet hit hard in State College.

Mike Negra, owner of Mike's Music, said that last week's sales were on par with the previous week's sales.

"People are shopping for music as a diversion," Negra said. "If not a diversion from the war, then just from everyday life. But so far it doesn't look like this community is jumping on the Dixie Chicks."

Negra also said that purchasing trends might not develop until later in the war, but that it just may be too soon to tell now.

The quick onset of war has also left some local radio stations uncertain about future policies regarding airtime for artists who act out politically.

"We support our troops, but we are not in the business of making political statements," Allen said.

He said that stations around the country that drop music not because of audience opinions but because of artist's viewpoints are wrong.

Dunkle agreed.

"I think in the long run, stations that completely ban the Dixie Chicks will be criticized more than those who didn't," Dunkle said. "If we ban or boycott their music for what they have said, we are insulting what we are fighting for."