Opposing sides of the abortion debate looked for common ground but found little at a packed discussion at the ARCO Forum last night.

The panel, which featured national leaders from abortion rights and anti-abortion movements, was a joint effort of the Students for Choice, Harvard Right to Life and the Institute of Politics' student advisory committee. It was cosponsored by a dozen student groups ranging from the Salient to the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Supporters' Alliance.

"I can say without drama that abortion is one of the most divisive issues the United States has had to contend with since slavery," said former Sen. Alan K. Simpson, who moderated the panel. "We are here to raise consciousness, not to raise hell."

But despite the stated goal of finding common ground, the discussion veered into a polarized debate.

Before entering the IOP, students were checked for identification by police officers and led past the yellow caution tape stretched across the forum entrance.

Inside, members of the sponsoring student groups were segregated by white streamers on the auditorium floor.

Bill Baird, director of the national Pro-Choice League, began the discussion with an account of his personal role in the abortion-rights movement and a graphic description of the dangers of illegal abortion that visibly unsettled the audience.

He suggested that the two sides could reach common ground by focusing on "reducing abortion with more contraception and birth control distribution."