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^OUl§BURQ,N.C. 2754sI
Vol. XXX, No. 6
Louisburg College
Box 947, Louisburg, N.C. 27549
Auditorium/Theatre Complex-Center Stage
By BRAD JOHNSON
In June 1961 Louisburg
College purchased the
William Robert Mills
Building, for the sum of
$230,000 from the Franklin
County Board of Education.
An additional, $150,000 was
appropriated for renovation
and furnishing of Louisburg
College’s new classroom
building.
The William Robert Mills
Building was the Franklin
County high school facility for
more than forty years. It was
named after the Franklin
County School Superinten
dent. When Louisburg Col
lege bought the building they
changed the name from the
William Robert Mills Buildingf
to the Auditorium Classroom
Buildng or the AC Building.
The AC Building was to be
the scene of many cultural
and educational experiences
in the years to come.
With the $150,000 budget
the building began to take a
new shape. The seating
capacity of the auditorium
was increased and the
lighting and acoustics were
improved to make the audi
torium the best in the north
eastern part of the state. The
basketball court was con
verted into a theatre that
could seat about 110 people.
This theatre is now referred
to as the Plank Theatre. In ad
dition, to the expanded
auditorium and theatre, a hall
was built between the audi
torium and the theatre, and
offices were built beside the
classrooms.
The AC Building has been
very useful during the past 20
years but it is over 60 years
old and the cost of maintain
ing a building this old is
unbearable. The college is
now directing it’s attention to
building a new Auditorium/-
Theatre Complex. The plans
for this new addition are ex
citing. It would put Louisburg
College back into the spot
light for local and regional ac
tivities. the new Auditorium/-
Theatre Complex would be
the best facility of its kind
between Raleigh and the
Virginia state line. This facili
ty will be able to offer learn
ing experiences to either a
small group of students or to
a group as large as 1,200 peo
ple. The construction of this
new complex would result in
the destruction of the AC
Building.
With the destruction of the
AC Building the campus will
have the addition of another
new building; however, it will
end an era. The AC Building
has had many top name per
formers grace it’s stage, such
as. The Guy Lombardo Or
chestra, Paul Anka, and Ken-
Louisburg College A/C
ny Rogers. When Allen
DeHart, director of Cultural
and Public Affairs, was asked
how he felt about the destruc
tion of the AC Building, he
replied, “When I think about
the stage in the auditorium, I
am mesmorized not only by
the sounds of the performers,
but also by those sounds that
came from the audience.” He
concluded by saying, “Even
i ' ' ' '' -
Photo by KITTY McFARLAND
though I have many great
memories of the AC Building,
I am anxious to develop new
memories about the new Aud
itorium/Theatre Complex.”
Not only are the faculty and
administration ready for a
new complex, the students
are also anxious about the
possibilities of a new Auditor
ium/Theatre Complex.
Brotherhood ir Unity Celebration
By KELLI SWINSON
“Come on people now, smile
on your brother. Everybody
get together, gotta love one
another right now...”
During the turbulent
1960’s, this popular song ex
pressed a message of brother
hood and unity. Today that
message can be heard
through the music of Paul Mc
Cartney and Stevie Wonder.
“... ebony and ivory, livin’
in perfect harmony... side by
side on my piano keyboard,
oh, why can’t we?”
The Louisburg College Of
fice of Student Affairs is spon
soring the “Brotherhood and
Unity Celebration” February
19-23. The ’idea behind this
celebration is to bring com
munity and campus together.
The scheduled activities
are geared to bring different
groups of people together for
a common goal. Traditionally,
February is Black History
Month. This celebration
should bring about a campus-
wide awareness of the black
history, the campaign for
equal rights, the cultural,
social, and aesthetic contribu
tions Afro-Americans have
made to our society.
The first events begin Sun
day, February 19th. Two
movies will be shown in the
Multi-Purpose Room beginn
ing at 6. The first film will
raise questions on prejudice.
The second film is a musical
tribute to such performers as
Billie Holiday and Woody
Guthrie.
On Monday, February 20th,
Dr. Oliver C. Jphnson will
speak about achieving unity.
Dr. Johnson is from Cary. He
works for the North Carolina
Department of Education.
Louisburg College Faculty
and students will share the
stage Tuesday evening for a
poetry reading. Dean Eller,
Ray Mize, Molly Barnes, Byrd
Williams and Patricia
Dunston will recite poetry
from black poets such as
Langston Hughes and James
Weldon Johnson. They will
share original poems as well.
A lot of talent will be pre
sent Wednesday, Feb. 22 in
the college cafeteria. The pro
gram will last from 4:45 to
6:15. Along with a “home
cooked” meal will be down-
home entertainers. Among
the performers will be Lori
Collins, Kristina Smith, Bob
by Armistead, Connie Fogg,
David Critz, Charles Johnson
and Dean Eller. Former
students, Cindy Morris and
Sonia Galloway will return as
Continued on page 2
Computer Voting: How Far Away?
By CARLA A, JOYNER elections and giving people a
greater voice in government.
Telephone, television, Although it seems possible
automobiles, and, other to incorporate electronic
technological developments voting systems for national
have revolutionissed the way elections, presumably they
we live, work, and play. The would be better suited for
computer will probably do no discussing issues at the local
less. In fact, the computer level. Let’s take the issue of
could have a greater impact busing for example. Many
on oi«r lifestyles than any in* town meetings have been
vention so far. Computers held to discuss this particular
could eventually revolu*’situation, People were forced
tionize the way we vote. to leave the comfort of their
This election year people homes, as well as waste
will vote by marking ballots valuable time and gasoline in
pr ^mampuiating levers in order to attend thest
voting machines. But in the meetings. For these reasons,
future, instead of goin^ io ^e and many more, it has been
polls, people could vot© elec- suggested that such issues be
tronically from their own presented on television and a
homes. Such a prc^^ure system of electronic voting be
would be much more coaven- established. With the use of
lent for voters and eventaally television, people for ;:nd
less expensive for the govern-1 aganist an issue could be on
ment, thus allowing for morel the same program. Thus, the