Getting harder to bring the good news out of Iraq when those interviewed on camera are later found dead.

The crew arrived on campus after obtaining permission from the dean’s office, but found no professor would go on camera or allow them to film in a classroom.

"The last time a TV crew was here about two weeks ago, they took pictures, then those people on camera were killed," the guard told us. He followed us around constantly. It might have been true. It might have been a rumor. But the guard believed it.

Fact or not? There is certainly evidence to suggest that death comes for many who are in the public eye.

They do have a right to be nervous on campus. According to Iraq’s Association of University Lecturers, 182 professors and academics have been assassinated since the start of the war. The group says another 85 have been kidnapped or survived attempts on their lives.

The above information makes the bravery of the following students very impressive, and more then a little sad.

We did manage to talk to Hassan, an engineering student, who was having lunch in the university’s cafeteria.

"I think there is hope that everyone in Iraqi will participate in this government. People hope the future will be better," he said. "But everyday I hear that 50 Iraqis have been killed. Anyone can kill or be killed and no one will even ask why."

Another student, a young woman wearing a yellow blouse who didn’t want to give her name, was equally hopeful and discouraged.

"I hope that it will succeed, but I don't think that it will. All of the students, we don’t know if we are going to live or die under the current situation."

After all that has happened to them they deserve to get their lives back on track. The way it was before the Americans came and turned their lives upside down.