As news of Osama bin Laden�s death spread across the nation, a wave of excitement passed through the University of South Dakota campus.
Students at USD were preparing for the upcoming week of finals Sunday night and, with the university-sponsored event, �Breakfast at the MUC,� happening around the same time of the announcement, the sound of cheers emanated from inside the Muenster University Center.
�I was in the MUC when bin Laden�s death was announced,� Andrew Boyd, a USD junior, said. �The atmosphere was electric. There was definitely a buzz, and the conversations were all about his death.�
Freshman Abby Wolf said the news spread so quickly because of social networking sites.
�I don�t think news of bin Laden�s death would have gotten out so fast if it wasn�t for Facebook and Twitter,� she said. �Everyone was posting statuses about it, posting links to walls, texting their families and friends � it was a lot of communication happening at once.�
Senior Matt Blake said he was alerted to the news when he received an e-mail from the Washington Post saying there was breaking news. Blake then turned to CNN to hear the announcement.
�At first, I was questioning the validity of the news, but when I confirmed that it was true, I was elated,� he said. �Bin Laden was our generation�s �Boogey Man,� and for 10 years he has been the biggest threat to the United States. We�ve grown up in fear of what he could do, but now we�re relieved to have him out of the picture.�
Boyd said it was not only good news for him, but for our country as well.
�It was a good day for our country because bin Laden had been one of the only reasons as to why we still had troops in Afghanistan,� he said. �Whenever you can bring troops home, it�s a good day.�
Sophomore Courtney Ahlers agreed and said it showed America�s commitment to its efforts.
�I think it�s a victory for the United States. It shows that we�re determined and will keep working until we get things done,� Ahlers said.
Despite most students general good feelings about bin Laden�s murder, one student, who wished to remain anonymous, believes otherwise.
�Violence just begets more violence,� she said. �We should be afraid of an attack, because it�s typical to continue the war-type efforts. I don�t ever think killing a person is the right answer. I know he�s not a good person, but I still don�t agree with killing.�
A major concern in many students� minds is the possibility of a terrorist attack in retaliation to the death of bin Laden.
�We should be more afraid of repercussions, but al-Qaida is more disorganized now without their leader,� Boyd said.
Blake agreed that the United States should prepare for an attack, but it will be from a weakened al-Qaida.
�I think (bin Laden�s death) will splinter al-Qaida. There will be a run to take his place, but because there will be no central figure, it will just be little groups around the world,� he said. �There will be slight retribution � al-Qaida has been reeling from U.S. attacks. My thought is that we will see something from them, but it will not be a massive counter-attack.�
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