RELEASED: Dec. 18, 2003

DANVILLE, KY—Centre students were abuzz with news on Sunday that ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had been captured by U.S. forces. Here is an informal gathering of some Centre students' thoughts on the matter.

Where were you and what was your reaction to the news that Saddam Hussein had been captured?

"It was really shocking in the sense that nothing I'd heard beforehand suggested the possibility that Saddam would be captured soon. [News of the capture] was my roommate's good-morning greeting, and I didn't believe it at first. We spent a good deal of the morning listening to the news and discussing it."
— Ema Stoianova, junior, Bourgas, Bulgaria

"I rolled out of bed Sunday morning, walked into the bathroom, and my friend Kevin sent me back to turn on the television. My initial reaction was partial surprise mixed with a feeling of reassurance that U.S. intelligence forces are making significant progress."
— Ben Durham, freshman, Crestwood, Ky.

"When I first heard that Saddam Hussein had been captured, I was rolling out of bed in order to get ready for church. I turned on the television, saw the news and thought to myself, 'This is the reason President Bush sent troops to Iraq.' "
— Michael Samford, freshman, Mount Vernon, Ill.

What do you think this means for the future of Iraq?

"Now that we are certain Saddam's out of the way, Iraq has a better future—as long as the Iraqi people have the right to elect their new leader. The euphoria after his capture testifies to this."
— Fuad Nasir, senior, Dhaka, Bangladesh

"I think this will lead to a very stable democratic government where something like this will never happen again. But it's going to be a long, slow process, and there will no doubt be many terrorist attacks along the way. In the end, however, the free Iraqis will win out and there will be peace at last."
— Adam Owens, freshman, Pataskala, Ohio

What do you think should happen to Saddam?

"Whatever the Iraqi people decide. After all, they were the victims of Saddam's regime."
— Diep Hoang, junior, Hanoi, Vietnam

"It's hard to say, but the Iraqi people should have the chance to try him as they see fit."
— Jill Embrey, sophomore, Hershey, Pa.

"So many people want to kill him because of all the problems he's caused. But I don't think killing by killing is the answer. He should get his day in court, and we need to get some answers out of him."
— Emily Green, junior, Tullahoma, Tenn.

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