A cross between tag and Assassins, the interactive game which was launched Jan. 11 and will continue through Jan. 16 at noon pits students against each other as they enact a war between humans fighting for survival and zombies trying to eat their brains. Although Humans vs. Zombies draws on the competitive spirit of popular Dartmouth traditions like snowball fights on the Green, the game's premise a zombie-induced apocalypse on earth makes for a singularly wacky recreational experience.
Student moderators said they were initially concerned that fears about safety and disruption of campus life would stop the game. To ensure the safety and appropriateness of the game, students began the organization process last term. Moderators worked diligently with a large group of administrators to ensure that students who chose not to partake in Humans vs. Zombies would not be inconvenienced by the game.
The Dartmouth community seems to have reacted positively to Humans vs. Zombies' new presence on campus a few professors have even asked if they could join the game, according to student organizers.
Moderators said they hope Humans vs. Zombies will someday join the ranks of the campus snowball fight and Polar Bear Swim as a highly anticipated annual tradition.
Conceived in 2005 by students at Goucher College, Humans vs. Zombies quickly spread to colleges across the country, even making inroads in foreign countries such as Denmark and Great Britain. Dartmouth's game, however, is the first Humans vs. Zombies competition to take place in the Ivy League.
A team of six students including Laura Michet '11, Alden DiIanni-Morton '11, Max Seidman '12, Angela Zhang '12, Victoria Oosterhout '12 and Avery Yen '13 will serve as moderators for the game.
Moderators said they see Humans vs. Zombies as a low-key and light-hearted alternative to the predominantly Greek social scene on campus.
"I wanted people to get excited about something that wasn't going out on a Friday night or something typical of College culture," said Yen, who first suggested bringing the game to Dartmouth. "Something like Humans vs. Zombies is just pure fun."
Michet added that she sees the game as an opportunity to diversify Dartmouth social life.
"Dartmouth needs more outlets for people," Michet said. "People need to take initiative and do things to help people meet each other [through] new kinds of activities. Humans vs. Zombies is a social space. It's a special kind of event."
Enthusiasm for the game is running high, as over 170 students are signed up to play.
Raymond Boniface '14, one of the few Humans vs. Zombies veterans on campus, exemplifies this spirit of excitement.
"I am just a very enthusiastic player," Boniface said. "I got a blitz about Humans vs. Zombies and the first thing I saw was zombie apocalypse. That really got me. I spent most of winter break over at my friend's house cutting up pipes and making shotgun shells and stuff."
Although Boniface's dedication to the game is far from the norm, the moderators said they hope momentum will build once word gets out about the game.
Moderators believe the inevitable visibility of the game nerf gun warfare is difficult to hide, after all will increase student interest, setting up for an even bigger competition next term.
