2008 Woodie Awards
Sock, spoons, Tabasco options for replacing guns in "Assassins" game
Rachel Albin
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: News
Fans of the university-banned game known to many as "Assassins" could fight the new rule with different weapons: not NERF guns, but socks and spoons.
All "Assassins"-like games, in which players hunt each other, were banned at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln last month following a gun scare related to a version of the game organized through Neihardt Residence Hall called "Live Free or Neihardt."
Earlier this month, the Residence Hall Association passed a bill condemning the ban and vowed to work toward creative solutions to bring the game back.
University officials have revised the game in the past.
Previous revisions focused on making the name of the game and wording in its rules less violent, following another game-related scare at the UNL last summer.
Doug Zatechka, UNL's director of housing, said in the summer incident, a group of high school students staying at the university caused confusion when a list of "people to assassinate" was found by someone not participating in the game.
This incident, as well as recent violence at other universities and Westroads Mall in Omaha, prompted organizers to change the game's wording to "Live Free or Neihardt," he said.
Steve Mott, a junior computer and electrical engineering major and RHA senator for Courtyards who has defended the game, said all offensive wording was removed.
To lift the ban, revisions would have to be made to eliminate any "weapons" used to play the game that could be confused for real firearms.
Housing is open to creative suggestions, Zatechka said.
Jennifer Meister, a junior architecture student and president of Neihardt, said the hall's government is letting RHA address the problem rather than discussing solutions themselves.
RHA will likely create a committee on the subject, Mott said, but it may have to wait until the next senate commences in April.
"The rules now without the rewrite allow a Styrofoam cup," said Mott, suggesting the cup could be an option for the game's weapon.
All "Assassins"-like games, in which players hunt each other, were banned at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln last month following a gun scare related to a version of the game organized through Neihardt Residence Hall called "Live Free or Neihardt."
Earlier this month, the Residence Hall Association passed a bill condemning the ban and vowed to work toward creative solutions to bring the game back.
University officials have revised the game in the past.
Previous revisions focused on making the name of the game and wording in its rules less violent, following another game-related scare at the UNL last summer.
Doug Zatechka, UNL's director of housing, said in the summer incident, a group of high school students staying at the university caused confusion when a list of "people to assassinate" was found by someone not participating in the game.
This incident, as well as recent violence at other universities and Westroads Mall in Omaha, prompted organizers to change the game's wording to "Live Free or Neihardt," he said.
Steve Mott, a junior computer and electrical engineering major and RHA senator for Courtyards who has defended the game, said all offensive wording was removed.
To lift the ban, revisions would have to be made to eliminate any "weapons" used to play the game that could be confused for real firearms.
Housing is open to creative suggestions, Zatechka said.
Jennifer Meister, a junior architecture student and president of Neihardt, said the hall's government is letting RHA address the problem rather than discussing solutions themselves.
RHA will likely create a committee on the subject, Mott said, but it may have to wait until the next senate commences in April.
"The rules now without the rewrite allow a Styrofoam cup," said Mott, suggesting the cup could be an option for the game's weapon.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Old guy
posted 3/12/08 @ 6:15 AM CST
Wow! Nice to know a game I played at college 25 years ago is alive and well. Having read about the game, then called Killer, in a newspaper, I organized the first few games at Arizona State University in the (very) early-80's. (Continued…)
L
posted 3/12/08 @ 10:54 PM CST
I'm still upset that game was even changed. That girl over reacted. A neon green gun, sitting on a desk right next to 30 other people, with no one else freaking out. (Continued…)
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