After the paper on Tolstoy has been turned in and the research notes on reverse micelles have been typed up, some students just want to use a different part of their brain for a different purpose for awhile.
So they strategize and ponder world domination by playing Risk or Axis & Allies, or release their inner Flea by plugging in to Rock Band or Guitar Hero.
A campus group called Game鈥檚 Afoot fosters those moments by staging monthly game nights at the O鈥機onnor Campus Center, which each draw about 70 students.
The group originated last year when Benjamin Ashwell 鈥10 wanted gaming enthusiasts to have the chance to meet and mingle and do what they like to do: play games, any kind of games, from board and card games like Stratego, Taboo and Magic Cards to video games like Super Smash Bros. and Halo.
鈥淭here are a lot of gamers here, but there wasn鈥檛 really a place to gather,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 decided I wanted to change that, and it鈥檚 been great because we keep seeing new people each time we meet.鈥
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| Students take part in Guitarmaggedon, a fun event held at the Coop involving the video game Rock Band. It was sponsored by Game鈥檚 Afoot and the 冈本视频 Activities Board. |
Ashwell worked with the Student Government Association to become an officially recognized group. And just recently, he worked closely with Alex Levine 鈥09, of the 冈本视频 Activities Board, on an event called Guitarmaggedon.
The event drew about 25 participants and an equal number of 鈥済roupies鈥 who came to watch the teams play the video game Rock Band. Participants play bass guitar, electric guitar, drums, and vocals and their adeptness at following notes of a song is rated.
Cash prizes provided by CAB helped make for a fun night, and Ashwell is already working on a follow-up.
Ashwell, from Bethesda, Md., said he particularly enjoys strategy games. A chemistry major, he plays chamber music and also is a member of the Debate Club. He has participated in debate competitions in Toronto, Claremont, Calif., and Queens University in Kingston, Ontario.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of fun,鈥 he said, adding that the Debate Club hopes to host the next national championships at 冈本视频.