When is Multnomah going to have another all-school retreat? For that matter, when will there be any retreat? Multnomah should have an all-school paid retreat at the beginning of the school year. Most college students would jump at the opportunity to get away from campus for a weekend, relax and hang out with their friends.

This semester the winter retreat was canceled due to lack of student interest. Was the problem lack of interest, or was it inability to go?

Perhaps students are too busy with work or their student ministries to make time to go on a retreat. Perhaps students don't have money to go on a retreat. The point is, college students have an interest in attending retreats.

For some students, having a paid retreat would enable them to actually consider attending, instead of dismissing the idea of going before they even consider it. Most events sound more appealing when accompanied by the word "free."

Retreat fees are already subsidized by Stugo funds. However, for a college student who is thousands of dollars in debt and working only a few hours a week at minimum wage, a $10 retreat might as well be a $100 retreat.

Even if the retreat is free, students may still lose money if they have to take time off work. If the school pays for the cost of the retreat, Multnomah students wanting to go would have one less hurdle in their way.

Busy students will probably always be a factor to consider when planning a Multnomah retreat, but steps can be taken to solve the busyness dilemma. If one all-school retreat occurred at the beginning of the school year, students would be more likely to go, especially if syllabus shock hasn't had a chance to take affect.

One all-school retreat paid for by Multnomah sounds much more inviting than a $50 retreat involving 20 students.

Multnomah students should not be required to attend. Only students who want to go should attend.

So what can Multnomah students do to put themselves on the receiving end of free recreation?

According to Dr. Wayne Strickland, Multnomah's academic dean, one reason Stugo hasn't allocated more funds for a retreat is lack of student interest. If students would let a Stugo officer know how much they would like to have their retreats paid for, Stugo might make the retreat a priority in its budgeting.

Retreats are a fun and important time for college students' social lives. Students shouldn't be left out because of insufficient funds or extreme busyness.