Chiel was one of more than 200 students—mostly freshmen—who filled Harvard Yard after the President’s speech to celebrate.

Not all students thought the celebration was appropriate, however.

“I don’t think anyone’s death is anything to celebrate,” Dawn J. Mackey ’11 said, explaining that she thought the celebration turned bin Laden’s death into a joke.

“Even though he was the enemy, all deaths are a tragedy. It’s more appropriate to honor and remember the lives of the [soldiers and civilians] whose lives were lost.”

Edward Escalon ’14, who also attended the Yard celebration, said he was surprised with Harvard students’ display of patriotism.

“My stepdad’s done a few tours to Iraq,” Escalaon said. “I hate to say ‘Oh my god it’s over,” but at least part of it is over. It’s very inspiring,” he said. “I didn’t think Harvard students were patriotic.”

Brendan P. Hanrahan ’14, a player on the Rugby team, said he heard the news on the bus ride home from a win against the College of Buffalo that guaranteed them a spot in the national championship for the first time in years.

“The already ecstatic atmosphere turned into bedlam,” Hanrahan said. “Does it get any better than that?”

LOOKING FORWARD

Since the September 11 attacks, bin Laden has come to represent the face of anti-American extremism.

Kennedy School assistant professor Tarek Masoud, a Middle East expert, said that his death could have both positive and negative repercussions for the U.S.

If bin Laden was still the operational leader of al Qaeda, his death will have significant implications for the future of that organization.

“Obviously, killing bin Laden decapitates al Qaeda and robs it of its operational leader,” he said. But Masoud also cautioned that bin Laden’s position as a fundamentalist leader could lead to a backlash from his supporters.

“It could make a martyr out of Osama bin Laden,” Masoud said. “That’s why I think President Obama was careful not to gloat about this or declare victory. He said the war on terror is ongoing and that we must remain vigilant precisely because this might potentially inspire others to take revenge for what happened.”

Ali Asani ’77, chair of the Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations Department, said bin Laden’s death will do little to mitigate anti-American sentiment.