Students and others hoping to get a glimpse of U.S. President Barack Obama—maybe even shake his hand—started lining up early outside the UI Field House.

Not everyone who turned out was an Obama fan, of course. Eventually about 40 protesters gathered near Slater and Rienow residence halls, bearing signs that critiqued the president's policies or supported his political opponents.

All told, the scene outside was more subdued than in 2010, when the president last visited the UI to talk health insurance reform. Then, supporters and opponents alike thronged the protest areas, engaging in debates that were often civil, sometimes heated.

This time around, the debate seemed fiercer online, including on the university's main Facebook page. See how the Obama visit played out on social media.