by Aden Chua
October 3, 2024

On the 26th of September, journalist Aden J. Chua interviewed CampusOne80 President, Dr. Carrie Starr about the CampusOne80 program and its upcoming Fall Retreat.

ADEN:
What we want to know is what exactly CampusOne80 is, then I’ll be asking about the Fall Retreat that’s part of CampusOne80.
Dr. Starr:
Okay, Super!
So, CampusOne80 is a student club at GCC, and it is part of a larger network of student clubs across the country serving college students, providing Christian community and leadership development, and that’s who we are.
ADEN:
Who exactly is allowed to join the club?
Dr. Starr:
Anyone who is a student at GCC can join the club. We hold Bible studies twice a week. On Tuesdays, we work out the miracles of Jesus, and on Thursdays, we’re doing the book of I Peter. Students who are familiar with the Bible are welcome to come. Students who are curious about the Bible and Christianity are also welcome to come. People can be from any religious background, and all are welcome, but our focus is on exploring the Christian faith and providing support to students in their spiritual journey.
ADEN:
When do you meet every Tuesday and Thursday?
Dr. Starr:
We start at 12:30pm and we go to about 1:45, and we meet in room T124 in the Technology Building.
ADEN:
Is there anything else you all do in those meetings?
Dr. Starr:
Yes. Sometimes we play games, have discussions, pray for one another, and plan events and service opportunities.
ADEN:
I heard about this one opportunity called Fall Retreat. Can you tell me about that?
Dr. Starr:
Yes, so our Fall Retreat is a regional retreat. It’s a partnership with other CampusOne80 clubs from colleges across the Northeast. There are multiple colleges in the Rochester area that will have students–RIT, SUNY Brockport, MCC, and Roberts Wesleyan–and then we’ll be joined by students from Massachusetts at Worcester State University, Nichols College, and Quinsigamond Community College, and we will be at Lake Sacandaga in the Adirondacks. It’s Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime. We’re learning about building bridges with all different kinds of people: How can we connect with people who are different from us?
ADEN:
What exactly do you mean by “building bridges?”
Dr. Starr:
When we look at the example of Jesus, Jesus gathered people from very different backgrounds: political backgrounds, social backgrounds, economic backgrounds, and religious backgrounds. Then, he commissioned them to go outside of their communities to be a salt and light in the world. We are going to be providing different workshops, teachings, and activities to help students learn how to peacefully and graciously get along with people who are different than they are. We build connections: How can we build relationships with people who are different?
ADEN:
So, when exactly is this event?
Dr. Starr:
It’s October 25th to the 27th, which is Friday afternoon to Sunday lunchtime.
ADEN:
Right. And is there a departure time?
Dr. Starr:
We will probably try to leave by about 4:00pm, but we’ll probably have a late car for people who can’t leave at that time. There is also a cost associated with the retreat: it’s $85 for the weekend, and that includes your housing, food, and all the activities, but we do have scholarships available through the Student Engagement and Inclusion (SEI) Office.
ADEN:
Cool. So, it leaves from Batavia to where again?
Dr. Starr:
Sacandaga Lake. It’s just outside of Albany, New York in the Adirondack mountains. And we do have a special speaker coming for the retreat. His name is Timotheus Pope, and he is the leader of an urban youth camp. He’s going to help us expand our perspectives.
ADEN:
Are there any other activities associated with the Fall Retreat?
Dr. Starr:
There will be workshops, teaching sessions, and worship times. There will also be free time where there will be outdoor games and activities. There’s mini golf at the conference center if people enjoy mini golf. Usually there are people who enjoy playing football. We do a bonfire one of the evenings, and we usually go on a hike on the Adirondack mountains for anyone who enjoys hiking. So, there are a lot of different activities. Students can also take a nap or bring their schoolwork and do homework during free time, so there is time for getting homework done as well if people have a lot of assignments over the weekend.

For more information about the club, contact Carrie Starr: cstarr@campusone80.com
Find the organization at www.campusone80.com.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.