Students’ Facebook news feeds were flooded late Sunday evening with rumors, speculation then news about the death of long-sought-after al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
President Barack Obama took to the airwaves later that night to inform the country that the news was true, and the announcement sent shockwaves across campus and the nation.
Tommy Jacobi, English senior, said he wasn’t sure how to feel when he first heard the news.
“It’s hard to believe,” he said. “It’s almost surreal.”
Jacobi said he remembers watching the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, on television during class and being disturbed by the day’s events.
Jacobi said the main reason for his confusion is how long the search for bin Laden went on.
“I’ve been told since I was 10 to hate this guy,” he said. “Now that he’s gone, I don’t know what it means.”
Daniel Beaubouef, history senior, was excited to hear the news of bin Laden’s death.
“It’s about time justice was served,” he said. “He killed so many people.”
Beaubouef said he has watched the news constantly since hearing the announcement because he’s unsure of what will happen next.
“There is definitely going to be some retaliation from radical Muslims that followed him, but I think things will get better,” he said.
Beaubouef said he remembers being worried and scared after the events of Sept. 11, and bin Laden’s death has given him some closure.
Neil Hendrick, owner of Zippy’s Burritos, Tacos and More on Perkins Road, said the restaurant offered $2 shots of Rumple Minze, Jägermeister and Goldschläger on Monday night as part of a celebration.
Hendrick said the restaurant didn’t see a large crowd Sunday night, which he attributes to how late the news broke.
Hendrick said the restaurant is also playing the news on all its televisions to keep its patrons informed.
Fred’s Bar in Tigerland also hosted an open bar celebration Monday night in which all military personnel could get in free, according to a Facebook event from Fred’s.
But not everyone is sure if bin Laden’s death is worth celebrating.
Troy Green, French freshman, said he felt uncomfortable being happy to hear of someone’s passing, regardless of his or her actions.
“I was kind of shocked that people were praising someone’s death,” he said. “But I guess it makes sense. He did a lot of bad things.”
Green said he’s not sure what effect bin Laden’s death will have on the War on Terror.
“It’s really a toss-up,” he said. “No one ever knows what will happen.”
Meghan Bilski, architecture freshman, said she found out about bin Laden’s death Monday morning when she checked her Facebook page.
She said her first reaction was to wonder how the event will alter the nation’s future.
“It’s interesting to see how this will affect the presidential election,” she said.
Bilski said she thinks many potential voters will think of bin Laden’s death as a victory and vote to re-elect Obama for a second term in 2012, and she’s not sure how she feels about that.
“Some people will credit it to Obama, but it’s really the troops that did it,” Bilski said.
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Contact Rachel Warren at [email protected]
Students have mixed reactions to bin Laden’s death
May 1, 2011