The Chadron State College chapter of Chi Alpha…a Christian student ministry…is hosting forum tonight at 8:00 in the college ballroom on the Asian nation of Myanmar…originally and still best known as Burma.

The forum will include a question-and-answer period with several students from the Pine Ridge Job Corps Center, who are refugees from Burma…where a totalitarian military regime has been in power since the 1960s.

The Job Corps students will recount their experiences, explain why they fled their native county, and discuss the current situation in Burma. Audience members will be encouraged to ask questions as well.

Chi Alpha advisor Pastor Shawn Banzhaf  says the group is also holding a 24-hour stationary bike ride fundraiser next Friday, April 12, to raise awareness of social injustice in Burma and other places around the world, and to provide meals for a Burmese refugee camp in Thailand.

Stationary bikes will be set at 3 locations across the Chadron State campus with riders going in 20-minute slots from  8 am Friday to 8 am Saturday.  Those interested in riding can learn more about the event and sign up at the Chi Alpha website http://www.chialphachadronstate.com

Banzhaf, a former Chadron police officer, says Chi Alpha has a goal of providing 10,000 meals for the refugee camp through Venture, an organization that holds adventure activities to raise awareness of social injustice.

Venture found the donor for the meals that will  be matched against the miles ridden at Chadron. Venture’s website for Venture is http://www.ventureexpeditions.org/