The distinct sound of Scottish bagpipes were heard across campus yesterday as Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) Student Action tried to raise awareness for saving the life of Florida resident Terri Schiavo.

Ritchie said TFP is a cultural and civic organization of Catholic inspiration that works to uphold and defend the values of tradition, family and property -- values they believe to be the basic pillars of civilization.

Schiavo, 41, who has brain damage due to a cardiac arrest in 1990, cannot communicate with others and has to be fed through a tube.

"Bagpipes are attractive, beautiful and can be heard from a mile away," said director of TFP Student Action John Ritchie.

"And what we're trying to do with them is to draw attention and awareness to protect the life of an innocent lady who doesn't deserve to die," he added.

The organization was asking people to sign petitions on Allen Street as they carried giant red TFP flags urging Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to do what it takes to save Shiavo's life.

Ritchie said 200 to 300 people signed and turned in the petitions as of 2 p.m. yesterday.

"She can say some words like dad and mom, and she has an appreciation for music," Ritchie said. "Jeb Bush is doing all he can to stop this."

A judge recently ordered that Schiavo's feeding tube be removed Friday.

"The case is coming to a culmination and I'm here to raise public opinion in order to save an innocent life like Terri," TFP volunteer Ted Huereña said.

The controversy started after Schiavo became brain-damaged.

Schiavo's husband, who has legal custody over her, ordered the removal of her feeding tube. Her parents and family, though, want her to live.

"I'm not sure what the husband's motives are, but it seems selfish of him to not take the family into consideration," said Chandler Brenneman (sophomore-business management), who filled out a petition. "The lady can't even do anything about her situation."

Ritchie said Schiavo's husband has lawyers that are aided by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and proponents of euthanasia.

Mary Katherine Roper, a staff attorney with the Pennsylvania ACLU, said the Florida chapter of the ACLU became involved when the courts determined that Schiavo did not want to be kept alive.

"The intent was determined by the court, and that's what we think should be enforced," Roper said. "So we opposed any action that the legislature and governor would do to overturn this."

Ritchie said pro-life supporters are against starving Schiavo because it would be comparable to euthanasia.

"Here, we have a lady who can't defend herself," Huereña said. "Are we coming to a point in our society where if you can't provide for yourself, you should be killed?"

Sarah Robertson (senior-integrative arts) said she was not entirely familiar with Schiavo's situation before she signed the petition yesterday.

"If there's a chance she can get better, then why would you starve someone," Robertson said. "Her medical situation could improve and God could even heal her, who knows."

Ritchie said the controversy concerns an important moral issue.

"It's the basic right of human life and it would be an utter disgrace for the country to let her die," he said. "This would perhaps open the floodgates for more starvations to occur."