LOS ANGELES, Feb 22: Thousands of students from hundreds of universities across the country have been called to report to active duty as the United States prepares for war with Iraq.

The steady stream of students who have moved from college campuses to military installations is a sobering reminder to classmates left behind that the United States stands on the brink of war.

“We’re small enough that everyone knows they’re gone,” said Tom Bambrey, the dean of students at Indiana’s Wabash College, to Indiana Times, where two reservists have already left the 912- student, all-male school. Several other reservists and National Guardsmen on the Wabash campus are expected to follow soon.

As the mobilization intensifies, even large universities are starting to feel the impact.