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in this issue:
Louisburg gets new Radio Station, page 4
Vol. XXVII No. 4
Louisburg, N. C. 27549
February 1,1980
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Louisburg adopts refugee family
By Robert Mathews
Contributor
Louisburg gained a new' ad
dition to its community on
January 16, when a refugee family
of thirteen arrived at St. Paul's
church in Louisburg, last Wed
nesday. The Ta Family is from
Vietnam and belonged to the
much pitied group of "Boat
People". They left their home in
Saigon on October 31, 1978, with
an unknown destination, and little
food or money.
"We are very happy to have a
home," shyly said Ta Tu Tran, the
oldest of the eleven children,
when asked what she felt about
Louisburg.
Mr. Ta worked in the family rice
processing plant in Saigon. The
family is from the upper middle
class in South Vietnam, according
to Rev. George A. Magoon, rector
of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
When the American troops left
South Vietnam, all business
people were grouped in one
section of the city of Saigon. All
businesses and money were taken
from the people. The Ta family
would lose all personal freedom if
they did not leave the country.
The Ta family paid a large sum
of money for a boat ride out of the
country. The family was cheated
out of this money and never
received their boat ride. Mr. Ta
eventually was able to get another
boat ride for his family by
spending every penny the family
had and borrowing the rest. The
family had to escape the country
leaving friends and relatives
behind. As Tu Tran, 20, expressed
It, "I am very sad because I left my
grandparents."
The boat which the family used
to traveled from Saigon to
Malaysia was about 60 feet long
and carried 400 people. The
overcrowded conditions brought
on much sickness at sea. The Ta
family was at sea for approxi
mately five or six days before
making land fall. Upon the
family's arrival in Malaysia, they
were housed in a barn for five
days. Then they were transferred
to a school where the students
were apparently on vacation.
Afterwards they were transferred
twice to other camps before they
heard that St. Paul's Episcopal
church would represent them in
Louisburg.
see REFUGEE page 3
Gov. Hunt optimistic about future
By Safari Mathenge
Editor
"The dollar is pitifully weak in
the world market. The cost of
government and taxes and regula
tion are unbearable for many
farmers, businesses and indivi
duals."
That was Gov. Jim Hunt's
message to an audience of several
hundred people at the third annual
"Eggs and Issues" breakfast
sponsored by the Louisburg Area
Chamber of Commerce on Tues
day, January 15.
Even though he delivered such
unfortunate news, the governor
was not a prophet of doom. He
emphasized his optimism for the
future from even the most
unpredictable events in the U.S.
Embassy in Tehran to the $5.9
billion industrial commitment in
this state, reached only in the last
three years.
"I think North Carolina can be a
leader. Good things are happen
ing in our state. Good things are
happening in Louisburg and
Franklin County. 1 am optimistic
about our future," he said.
In sharing his thoughts about
the state and nation as America
begins the 1980s Hunt said, "lets
not forget that this decade began
vvith Russia's invasion of Afgha
nistan...that ought to wake us up.
It's time America stood up. It's
time we faced some hard facts
about this world."
Hunt compared Russia's inva
sion to the march of Nazi storm
troopers into Austria in the 1930s.
He expressed pride in President
Carter for "taking a new look at
see HUNT page 2
LC.has
French Connection
By Safari Mathenge
Editor
A French Club has been
organized to expose Louisburg
College students to the rich
French culture and to give French
students an opportunity to prac
tice the language. Gwendolyn
Cavington was elected president
of the club. Vivian Woods will be
vice president and David Couvil-
lion, secretary.
Covington said that the club
holds its meeting every Monday at
3 p.m. in the Blue Room at the
student center. Everyone is
welcome to join the club.
Students, she said, need not fear
for all events have been conduct
ed in English so far.
The club, though recent, has
shown much promise and vigour
in intramural activities. Vivian
Woods, reflected to their last
semester's involvement in the
cheese tasting party, and bright
ened up as she explained the
possibility of hosting French
dishes as a part of the club's
functions. If sufficient funds can
be gathered, the club might
consider a trip to France.
As their first project this year,
the club is organizing a tour to
Greensboro on February 4. There,
they will see the play, "The
Chairs", written by the famous
French playright Lonesco and will
be performed at the UNC-Greens-
boro Auditorium. The play will
involve only three characters, all
the rest being imaginery.
Harriette Sturges, who is the
French instructor and advisor to
the club called for massive
student interest.
Gov. James Hunt