A student strike today at the University protesting military action in Iraq will coincide with 300 similar protests on campuses around the country as part of the "Books not Bombs: Nationwide Student Strike against the War."

Lectures, performances, panels and a rally on the Diag, organized by Anti-War Action!, are designed to encourage students to skip class and learn about the possible war in Iraq.

By striking classes, students are demanding that the Bush administration redirect its public funds from the military to education, strike organizer Megan Williamson said.

"We oppose the war and we also want the University administration to officially declare their opposition to the war," Williamson said. "Military research contracts should be eliminated on campus," Williamson added, referring to the possibility of the University hosting a newly proposed Army biotechnology center.

Some professors and Graduate Student Instructors have cancelled class or devoted class time to discussing the situation in the Middle East.

Physics Prof. Dan Axelrod will discuss the history of nuclear threat in the Middle East at one of tomorrow's seminars. Along with visiting physics Prof. Tom O'Donnell, he will speak about "The Real Reasons for War: U.S. Hegemony in the Middle East," at 2 p.m. in room 1640 of the Chemistry Building.

"The U.S. has not changed their policy - this is a long history trend of domination in the Middle East," Axelrod said. "Since there are no other superpowers, the only opposition the U.S. will face is from the people around the world."

But despite the growing anti-war sentiment, many students on campus do not oppose war in Iraq. LSA junior Robert DeVore was called up from inactive reserve duty in the Air Force after Sept. 11 and served in Saudia Arabia for four months. "Most don't even understand what's going on or why there needs to be a war," DeVore said. "It's as if protesting is the politically correct thing to do so that's why they do it."

A new mini-course for credit about the war on Iraq will also launch today, with a new speaker every week discussing a different aspect of the war.

Dean Wang, chairman of Young Students for Freedom, said he will attend class today instead of going to the anti-war lectures. "A march for peace is a march for (Saddam) Hussein," Wong said. "I think war should be used as a last resort, and this is the last resort. Hussein needs to be removed."

Other groups, including Students for Social Equality and Environment Justice Group, are sponsoring lectures on the future of progressive left and radioactive waste, respectively.