President Obama's win of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize has created mixed reactions in the SF State community.

The announcement came early Friday morning from the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in a press conference in Oslo.

"It is early to award President Obama the Nobel Peace Prize, since we have not yet seen the outcome of his foreign policy effort," said Philip Dreyfus, associate professor of history.

Dreyfus also said that he understands the committee's motivation, as Obama is seen as a "breath of fresh air after the contentious unilateralism of the Bush years."

Dreyfus's colleague, professor Robert Cherny, also agrees. Cherny, who was in Germany this past semester as a lecturer, said people were excited about what Obama has done to change the world's perspective of the United States.

"Giving President Obama this award is a way to honor, celebrate and reinforce a new direction," said history professor Paul K. Longmore in an e-mail Friday afternoon.

But business student Abdul Alshehri said he was shocked at the news and believes Obama has done nothing to deserve it.

"President Obama has given lots of promises so far but nothing is done yet," Alshehri said.

International business student Eduardo Cañedo agrees.

"He's been president for such a short time," Canedo said. "Such an important prize should be given to someone who has done a lot."

Obama will be awarded the prize in Oslo on Dec. 10 and will donate the prize money of $1.4 million to charity according to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs in an article by The Associated Press.

Obama is the third sitting U.S. president, fourth overall, to receive the award according to a CNN report.

President Theodore Roosevelt received the award in 1906, President Wilson in 1919 and President Carter in 2002.