Indiana State U. students react to Saddam's detainment

Indiana Statesman (Indiana State U.) ^ | 12/17/03 | Staff Reports

[NorCoGOP]

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Batool Al-Alawi's family called her from Kuwait at about 11 a.m. The sophomore is an international student at Indiana State University from Kuwait.

"There are celebrations everywhere in Kuwait," Al-Alawi said. "We were really excited. Even the Iraqi people are excited."

However, Al-Alawi said she doesn't think the destruction in Iraq was worth it to capture one man.

"The United States should not handle this on its own," she said.

Pierre Lee Smith, a sophomore, said his roommate woke him up with the news of Saddam Hussein being captured by U.S. forces.

"My roommate bust through the door all happy, doing cartwheels screaming 'We got the bastard. We got the bastard,'" Smith said. "After which, I went back to sleep."

Megan Beers, a sophomore, said, "I think catching him makes us feel better about the war, but it is not going to solve all the problems."

Jack Maynard, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, said Saddam's capture will not change the situation in Iraq overnight, but he thinks it's a very big step.

Sophomore Amanda Lenwell saw the capture of Saddam as just the opposite.

"I think this just tops the war off," she said.

Colleen Fisher, a sophomore, had a similar view as Lenwell.

"It will finally bring an end to what we've been doing in the Middle East," Fisher said.

Now that Saddam has been apprehended, the question is one of what comes next.

Sophomore Breanne Everett said, "I think [Saddam} should have a slow and painful death, just like he did to all of his people."

Jeff Irwin, a junior, also said [Saddam] should be punished to the full extent of the law.

Irwin said he doesn't think the capture will affect life in Iraq.

"It won't," he said. "It wasn't a person, it was the mindset of the culture."

Smith said the impact in the Middle East will depend on who follows in the wake of the restructuring.

"It depends on if another tyrant takes control," Smith said. "How do you follow Saddam?"

Political science Professor Glenn Perry said: "I don't think this means anything to the Iraqi people because he was already out of power. He was hiding in a cellar."

Senior Bob Ehresman said he thinks Saddam's capture is a step forward.

"There's still a lot more work that needs to be done," he said. "It will bring a lot of peace of mind to Iraq and the world outside, as well."

Professor Michael Erisman, chairman of the political science department, said the impact of Saddam's capture in the Middle East will depend on what the United States decides to do with him.

"In the world in general ... the response will overall be pretty positive -- the idea being that this will possibly have some calming affect on the situation," Erisman said.

Erisman said there has been speculation that Saddam will be tried in an international trial, similar to that of the Nuremberg trials for Nazis.

"If it's international," Erisman said, "the question is, who would be involved?"

Ehresman said he doesn't think it should be the decision of the United States as to what happens next.

"I don't think that's the decision of the United States," he said. "That's the decision of the Iraqi people."

[sausageseller]

Yes, the professors' favorite read is quite telling as to what his true thoughts are!

[phil1750]

"The United States should not handle this on its own," she said.

This is the same argument that Bush had from a cnn correspondent at the news conference yesterday. He answered him by saying,"You mean France don't you? The coeletion is now over 60 countries working in Iraq."

Until we get the socialist involved, these democRATS won't be happy.

[Capt.YankeeMike]

ref: your post #19...worse places than Terre Haute???? well, yeah, i guess Evansville is worse...but only by a little bit.
The Capt.

[lelio]

West Lafayette was no scenic resort town when I was there. You're out in the middle of a cornfield with 95% males in engineering classes. Loads of fun.

[ItsBacon]

Two? You're lucky. I've got three and a half and the real fun hasn't even started yet...

[Always Right]

Two? You're lucky. I've got three and a half and the real fun hasn't even started yet...

You've been a freeper since 1999 and just started college....cool. I liked Reagan in Jr. High and High School, but I was not that politically informed to understand the difference between liberals and conservatives. Kids today have so much more information to really be informed. All my news came from network TV. Good luck.

[Arpege92]

"Irwin said he doesn't think the capture will affect life in Iraq."

Tell that to the Iraqi's who were on there way out of this life at the hands of Saddam's evil followers.

"It won't, he said. It wasn't a person, it was the mindset of the culture."

Turn your television on and watch all of that "Culture" dancing and celebrating Saddam's capture.

[Fintan]

The future of this country speaks...