Hope recovered for French students
In an effort to conceal her strong emotions, senior Brianne Anderson wipes away tears from her frustrated face. (photo by Molly English)
May 22, 2009 • written by Emma DeJong, 08-09 News Editor
Filed under News, Top stories
Hearing about the French trip’s cancellation, all seemed hopeless for the 21 students who had already started packing. With $5,000 lost to a bankrupt company, nothing but regrets and helplessness filled the hearts of both the students and parents alike.
“Not only is it a lot of money we’re out, but it’s an experience,” junior Diane Hahn’s mother Janet Hahn said.
French teacher Suzanne Thibert received an email Wednesday, May 13 from Voyageur Educational Tours, the company that originally provided the itinerary for the trip, saying they had gone bankrupt, and they were “sorry for any loss or inconvenience this has created.”
Announcing the news to her students, the excitement and anticipation people were feeling for the trip in two weeks vanished.
“Everybody started getting really sad and started crying,” senior Lindsay Lundstrom said. “They just kept asking ‘why’.”
Thinking it wouldn’t hurt to provide some options, Thibert presented National Educational Tour Council’s (NETC) program at a meeting with the students and parents. This is not as ideal as how the trip was originally planned, but it still offers nine days of exploring France. The downside is it requires each student to pay an additional $1,900, which is practically impossible for some families.
“When we’re talking about more money, that’s just not going to be an option,” Lundstrom’s mother June Lundstrom said.
Lindsay took three jobs in the past year in order to pay the original $5,000. Putting in so much time and effort to achieve this goal, the news about the cancellation was just another setback.
“Her life has been full of disappointments, and this is the one positive thing she had to look forward to,” June said.
Showing up to the meeting was President and CEO of Mid-America Aviation Thomas Kenville, a businessman with many connections in the area. He read about the French students’ situation in the Fargo Forum and decided this was something he would be able to help with.
“I’m the eternal optimist,” Kenville said. “I don’t do miracles, but I try.”
In order to sign on with NETC, Kenville figured $60,000 to $75,000 was needed within 48 hours.
Kenville called everybody he knew, seeing what people would be willing to give.
“When you dream, it doesn’t cost any more to dream big,” Kenville said.
Donations came from as far as California and as close as West Fargo. June is grateful for both, appreciating any support she and the rest of the group is given.
“People can give the emotional support which helps more than they know,” June said. “If the financial support follows, then great.”
At another parent meeting on Tuesday, May 19, this time with three news stations present, Kenville made the announcement that he was completely confident the needed funds would be raised. Twenty-one students will be going to France.
“I’m here to tell you the trip to France is cancelled,” Keville said, “until June 2.”
Junior Diane Hahn’s mother offers to lend students money in the form of a short-term loan.
Regarding Mr. Jeremy Murphy and his fantastic contribution to the paper and students-the following should be read, and noted.
“Without Freedom of thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such thing as public Liberty, without Freedom of speech” (Benajamin Franklin)
I have never taken newspaper, but i love to read it. It is not fair that Mr. Murphey is in the position that he is in right now because he lets his students speak their minds. Why would students in the future take a newspaper class if they know from the school’s history that they will not be able to write about what they feel is important and express their believes in the articles. The school needs to step back and realize that so many people read the newspaper this year because of the controversial articles that were in it. If the paper goes from what it was this year (amazing) to a dinky paper that sounds like teen robots wrote it.. no one will want to read it. Isn’t that what a paper is supposed to be about? People wanting to read it?
Betsy, although I will agree with most of what you say, I want to make it clear that the goal of our publication is not to sell newspapers. We do not write controversial articles so that people will be prompted to buy our paper- that is what the tabloids are for. If we write an article it is because we feel it is something the student body would find interested or informative, not so that people will buy more copies. Our papers get printed no matter how many students read or even take a paper from their home room teachers.