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LOUISBURG. N.C. 27549
COLUMNS
^'‘Orientation Issue
Vol.’ XXVIII, No. 8
Louisburg, North Carolina 27549
W elcome F reshmen!
August, 1981
Once again, the number of
entering freshmen at Louisburg
College is high, following a trend
begun three years ago. The dorms
are all filled and there are more
students now than at any time
during the 70's.
First and foremost, these
students will have to concentrate
on academics. But, the time here
at Louisburg College can be one
of personal growth as well as a
time to make the grades. There
are many organizations here, that
appeal to many interests. So, go
ahead and avail yourselves of
these activities. We can definitely
keep you bbsy while you are here.
The Student Government As
sociation is an active group on
campus. Student senators are
elected from their dormitories to
help make decisions in the senate
on student interests. There are
also committees affecting campus
life. These are the Entertainment,
Cafeteria, Discipline and Elections
committees. If a student becomes
a part of one of these he is
involved with decisions that affect
everyday student life and special
events.
If you are outdoors type, we
have the Appalachian Trail and
Whitewater Club. If singing is
your forte' we have the Glee Club
and Ensemble. The Louisburg
Players put on several theatrical
performances each year, if you
want to get on stage. The
Christian Life Council and the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Ricketts Does Research In Romania
Dr. Mac Linscott Ricketts,
Religion professor at Louisburg
College researched in Romania
during the months of April, May
and June this year, on a Fullbright
Grant, given only to
three or four Americans a year.
At first, Romanian officials
would not let him bring his
copying machine into the country.
Ricketts needed this machine to
copy off hundreds of pages of
material to bring back to the
United States. A friend advised
him to make a gift of his machine
to Romanian Library. He did,
made his copies and when he
came back to America the copier
stayed. He came back with over
3,000 pages of material, over 500
articles on his topic.
His topic was the work of a man
by the name of Mircea Eliade, a
Romanian religious historian, phi
losopher and novelist. While
Ricketts was at the University of
Chicago, Eliade advised him on his
dissertation thesis. Eliade is
considered the leading historian of
religions in the world and Ricketts
is his only student who has
learned Romanian to read him in
the original.
Before World War II, Eliade was
a widely-read novelist in Romania
and many articles by and about
him appeared in magazines there.
These are the articles Ricketts
copied during his stay in the
country.
Ricketts has translated one of
Eliade's novels, which was pub
lished in 1978. He has also
translated Eliade's autobiography,
which Harper and Row will
publish soon. With the material
gained during the Spring, Ricketts
is ready now to set to his most
important task to date - a
book-length interpretation of the
work and history of Eliade. He has
already agreed to write articles on
the subject for several periodicals.
During his stay in Romania, a
southeastern European country,
the size of North and South
Carolina together, he found the
people kind and ready to help.
"They were all interested in
America and loved the television
show, Dallas and American
movies," said Ricketts. "They are
not a carefree people, but they
endure. They complain about
economic difficulties."
Originally from St. Petersburg,
Florida, Ricketts attended the
University of Florida where he
earned his BA in Social Studies.
Then he received a Bachelor of
Divinity at Emory in Atlanta. To
obtain his Masters and Doctor of
Divinity degrees he attended the
University of Chicago, where he
came under the tutelage of Eliade.
After graduating he taught at
Duke University for six years
before coming to Louisburg
College, where he has taught and
done research for the past ten
years. During his time at Louis
burg, Ricketts' work on the
Romanian has become the fore
most in the world.
During his experience abroad.
Dr. Ricketts may have lost a copy
machine, but he gained infor
mation that will lift his life's work
to increased prominence.
Dr. Ricketts
are two religious organizations
offered at this school.
For those who like to write, lay
out, sell ads or edit, there are the
Oak yearbook and the Columns
newspaper. The Oak advisor this
year is Marcia McCredie, who has
a lot of great ideas for the book.
The Columns advisor is Billy
Odom.
Whatever your interests happen
to be, come on out and get
involved. See you at the meeting!
Dean's Cup Is
New Award
Associate Dean of Students
Patricia Morgan has announced
the institution of The Dean's Cup
Award at Louisburg College this
year. Dormitories will be divided
into units of 20 to 30 students who
will participate in intramurals,
service projects, the talent show
and other events for points. Each
semester a male and female unit
who earns the most points for
their participation will receive the
award, which consists of a trophy
and a free meal for unit members.
"The purpose of the Dean's
Cup program is to help students
with organization and leadership
skills," said Morgan. She has
formed the units already. In a few
days, students will receiver flyers
in their mailboxes explaining the
program fully to them.
More Living Room
At College
This past summer the college
contracted to construct ten new
rooms in the basement of Hillman
Dormitory due to expected larger
enrollment at Louisburg College
this school year.
Joe Hitt, Director of the
Physical Plant said that the project
includes a small lounge and
bathroom facilities on the new hall
in the new dorm. The new area
was completed August 1, and it
will house twenty men.
The staff also carpeted the
rooms in Wright Dormitory, as
well as painted all the other dorms
on the outside.