This morning, Dean of Students David Leedy announced changes to The King’s College community schedule for the 2020-2021 school year, including the elimination of Fall Retreat.

Fall Retreat, formerly held in the beginning of the fall semester in Rock Hill, NY, included activities built to foster King’s community life. A dodgeball tournament, a bonfire, and more were all planned by The King’s Council and student Cabinet to bring all King’s students together. Because of the unexpected change, students had varying opinions about the elimination of Fall Retreat.

“I feel like fall retreat is a staple of The King’s College and I personally have enjoyed the two I’ve been at,” Ruby Duane, a sophomore in the House of Thatcher said. “I told myself last fall retreat, ‘I’m going to go to all four of them for my four years at Kings.’ I’m sad that I can’t.”

Leedy’s announcement via email included two main reasons for the elimination of the retreat: spiritual life ineffectiveness, and budgeting reasons. Although the retreat included worship, devotions led by professors and staff, and speakers that spoke on an overall Biblical theme, Leedy stated in his email announcement that it “over time has become less effective on the spiritual development side.”

Fall Retreat attendees gather in front of the dining hall at the Iroquois Spring camp. I I Photo credit to Brent Buterbaugh

“My first year around I obviously didn’t care that much [about spiritual life], but this year was my first fall retreat that I was embracing [my faith],” Duane said. “ I felt His presence there, and he spoke to me in different ways and I just had the opportunity to embrace Jesus outside of the city, in the woods and by the water.”

Fall Retreat’s budget, as stated in Leedy’s announcement, was “$72,000 each year, making it financially unsustainable for the College as ticket sales cover only about 25% of the overall cost.” Costs were included in freshmen’s first-year tuition, and averaged around $85 for upperclassmen.

“I think for me, what I find most ironic is that they say that they’re cancelling it, and it’s all good, but then they give their reasoning for it: money,” said Gabriela Kressley, a junior in the House of Susan B. Anthony. “Just a week ago weren’t we celebrating that you overshot your giving goal? And celebrating this big $440,000? That’s a whole other can of worms for me, personally.”

Leedy also stated in his email announcement that in replacement of Fall Retreat, there will be weekend specifically scheduled for House Retreats, as well as additional funding. There will also be a King’s Day-Away, a day set aside to “bolster campus-wide community early in the semester.”

“I didn’t go to fall retreat this past year because I didn’t want to,” Kressley said. “I respect [administration’s] decision to not have [the retreat] because I think there are other ways [to create community], but at the same time, it was a really cool place for everyone to bond without house labels.”

Although the President’s Cabinet is offering these alternative options to foster community, students were still concerned that the community outside of the House System would be affected.

“I think it isolates the houses more,” Duane said. The houses are already isolated enough in the sense that when there are events that are happening throughout the school year, it’s difficult enough for people to go, whether that’s with their own house or an event with another house. At least with fall retreat, it’s that official marked-off time and you know you’re going to socialize with not just people in your house, but people in other houses, too.”

The retreat also held the first competition of the academic year to count towards the House Cup, Drama Competition. The competition will now be held during Parent’s weekend later in the semester.

EST has reached out to Dean Leedy for further comment, but he said he did not have more to add beyond his email announcement. He has scheduled a town hall meeting to address other students’ questions and concerns. The meeting is scheduled for Monday and 12:45 in the City Room.

Dean of Students Announces Elimination of Fall Retreat