By Melanie J. Knox, Page Editor

President Bush Wednesday signed the authorization he had received from both the House and the Senate last week to declare war on Iraq.

Bush has been talking to the United Nations about the possibility of war, and the issue has caused controversy throughout the nation and at ACU, as well.

Many students are torn about what the correct action would be in this situation.

“It’s a tough call because I really feel like it’s an evil regime doing these horrible things to other people,” said Cameron Slack, junior broadcast journalism major from Lufkin. “However, a pre-emptive strike from us sets a precedent for the rest of the world and if we go in and do this, then that means that other countries will use our example as a justification for other things.”

Others think Bush should more effectively evaluate the decision he is making before America jumps into war.

“The whole bombing Iraq thing is sort of rash,” said E’den Wooten, freshman nursing major from Dallas. “It’s really quick, and Bush needs to think about it more because it’s going to affect a lot of people and a lot of lives could be lost, and that’s not good.”

Courtney Armstrong, freshman computer science major from Mesquite, agreed.

“Bush should clearly think of the situation and make sure that he is making a good decision because it’s going to affect our nation as a whole. He has a very important decision, and I’m hoping he’ll make a good decision and prolong the attack.”

Jessica Poarch, junior English major from Jackson, Miss., said that at this point and time, she thinks it is a very bad idea. “We need to handle our ‘war’ with Bin Laden before we jump into any other international problems,” she said.

“I think we resent all Middle-Easterners at this point, and Sadaam really isn’t a just cause for us to kill innocent women and children, but we’re ticked off, so he’ll do,” said Mark Weathers, senior Christian ministry major from Abilene.

Some felt Bush is making a good decision in taking action now.

“After Sept. 11, we shouldn’t just sit around and wait on something to happen anymore,” said Perry Bolton, senior social work major from Paris. “If it does, we’ll just have to look back again and say, ‘Oh, we should have done something beforehand.'”