Do you ever feel like college is killing you inside? Have you ever described yourself as a zombie, going from class to class with nothing to sustain you but a cup of coffee? Well, now you can actually play the part.
On Monday, April 13 at 12:01 a.m., the seventh annual school-wide Humans vs. Zombies game will begin. It will continue until Saturday, April 18. The last day to sign up was Sunday.
This popular zombie apocalypse game is a university phenomenon that has spread across the world — not unlike a brain-eating disease — since its fruition at Goucher College in 2005.
Every player except one begins the game as a human. The object is to remain a human for as long as possible as the zombies multiply by the hour. Every day of the week, the remaining humans must either get “vaccinated” in the daytime or complete a mission at night in order to stay alive. If a human is bold, he or she might do both. Though there is always the risk of being turned into a zombie, human can protect themselves with sock balls.
The complete list of rules, as well as registration information, is located at apuhvz.com. It is $3 to register.
“It’s a fun game. Our whole goal is to make sure that students have a chance to blow off steam, build community and have fun,” said Chuck Strawn, the executive director of Communiversity. “[Those who don’t sign up] are missing out on a lot of really good community time and interaction with each other. They’re missing out on cardio — hopefully, if they’re doing it right — and they’re missing out on friendships that last a long time.”
Some students may be a little worried about having to change their routines or arrive to class late as a result of the game. Junior social work major Chelsea Heath, one of the game’s moderators, encouraged students to join anyway.
“Speaking from experience, Humans vs. Zombies is hectic. You are constantly in a state of panic wondering who’s around the corner, but it gives you a lot of experience to find and cling to people who are playing the game,” Heath said. “People start to develop these relationships and friendships that you wouldn’t find in a classroom. At least half of the people I’ve played with have become some of my closest friends. I actually kind of met my boyfriend through HVZ.”
Aside from gaining opportunities to form relationships, Humans vs. Zombies is a way for students to tap into other useful life skills.
“You get to learn survival skills, communication skills, problem-solving, and you’re learning who you can trust and who you can’t trust. I always say that HVZ doesn’t develop character, but it reveals it,” Strawn said.
If that doesn’t sell it, then maybe the prizes will. Awards in previous years have included gym memberships and free food from various eateries. Some of this year’s sponsors are Pizza Hut, Yogurtland, GameStop, Chick-fil-A and Wingstop.
“We are college students, so we know what college students want and we try to appeal to that,” Heath said.
The moderators offer prizes to the last remaining human of each gender, the ultimate human who has braved all five vaccinations and missions, the zombie with the most kills and more. The moderators also have been known to create unique prizes for feats based on the game’s unraveling events, such as bounties for exceptional humans.
“Humans vs. Zombies really helps to open your eyes and engage in this nerdy, quirky community with each other,” Heath said. “I feel like it’s just a great time for everyone.”