Peace candles burned out early Tuesday, but it was not on account of the slow drizzle in the King Memorial Commons.

About 60 people came out to light candles in what was supposed to be a candlelight peace vigil sponsored by the DeKalb Anti-War Coalition Tuesday at 4 p.m., but it became divided when a band of students from the Reserve Officer Training Corps started to speak in support of President Bush and U.S. troops.

“All these people here are the same ones who will complain gas prices are three bucks a gallon. These people are cowards,” said Wynn Ullman, junior economics major and National Guard member. Other Guard members said the protesters have “no respect for patriotism.”

In response, Anti-War Coalition member Zana Hepperly said Bush should call Saddam Hussein to work things out.

“I did this same thing 25 years ago for Vietnam. It was right here on this same campus and it (war) still does not make sense,” Hepperly said.

“We are invading Iraq and no one is giving me a reason,” she said. “I am scared for the whole world.”

After frustrated peace advocates started chanting “Warmongers go home,” and a group of students retaliated chanting “Free speech for all,” Tom Rainey, Marxist-Humanist Forum member, led a march of about 25 people around the Holmes Student Center.

A majority of the people stayed behind and argued their views for another hour. One—NIU staff member Julia Fauci—said she began riding her bike to school to conserve oil since the invasion in August.

“I lived in the ‘60s and have participated in several peace demonstrations,” she said. “It is a shame that the country is divided on these issues.”

NIU Judicial Officer Larry Bolles, who is required to observe all student demonstrations, said although the peace rally turned into a shouting match, “people expressing their points of view is always good.”

However, one NIU student saw less in the rally. Junior business major Brian Malone said it “went nowhere because people are more interested in arguing than finding a solution.”