The Student Congress on Racial Reconciliation is just around the corner, yet few students seem aware it exists. Biola has hosted this conference every year since 1996, but many students are either oblivious to it or simply choose not to attend. In its 16-year history, SCORR has sadly gained little prestige in Biola’s student community.

Students from all over the nation come to Biola to attend this conference every year. West Coast schools like Fresno Pacific University and Seattle Pacific University are frequently represented. Even East Coast and Midwest schools like Cedarville University have participated. These students pay upwards of $100 to travel and attend — but although it’s offered to Biola students for free, not many of us go.

Chapel credit as incentive

Last semester, Torrey Conference helped us understand the meaning of the Sabbath, and this semester, Missions Conference will shift students’ focus to what God has done and is doing overseas. But few students will take advantage of the opportunity to hear what God is doing on college campuses all over the nation at SCORR.

Why is SCORR so under-appreciated in its own community? Why does SCORR receive so much less hype than Torrey and Missions Conferences?

A key difference is that SCORR doesn’t offer chapel or conference credit. While Torrey and Missions are mandatory, SCORR is hardly even discussed among students.

The lack of conference credit signifies a gap in priorities.

What if SCORR offered conference or chapel credit? Extrinsic motivators, right? Students are consistently seeking out additional opportunities to knock their chapel credit down. However, offering conference credit, as it is a conference, will help those who have trouble completing the requirement during Missions. Excess credit spills into chapel. Either way, this would signify faculty taking a step in the direction of communicating the importance of this two-day conference.

Until then, students should be taking the initiative to care about SCORR on our own.

Shying away from diversity

There also seems to be a pattern when it comes to Biolans and diversity-focused events. Few recognize Biola’s racial reconciliation chapels throughout the year. We get excited to go on mission trips and do ministry work, but do we fully attend to the issues of diversity? Given the free opportunity, why would we shy away from celebrating the diversity that makes up God’s church?

When other schools come to the conference, they treat it as a significant commitment and act as though it is a privilege to attend. To Biola students, it is just another on-campus event on a busy weekend.

While Biola students should recognize the blessing of having such an event on our own campus, chapel or conference credit might accomplish the preliminary work of getting students to show up and give SCORR a chance.

Compared with Torrey and Missions Conference, SCORR is still relatively new and has yet to fully consume campus culture. Something needs to change to ignite the fire in Biola students. Extrinsic motivation just might be that spark.