Elimination game brings Whitley residents together

The Whitley Elimination game, which commenced on Nov. 4 at 12:01 a.m., is a hunter versus the hunted game whose players include the residents and resident assistants of Whitley Hall.

Not only is this the first year of the game, but it is also the first time a game like this has been played in any of the campus residence halls.

"The Resident Assistants chose this game because it is a great way to help residents get to know one another," Whitley Hall Director Jessica Gamez said.

The game lasts less than one month ending on Dec. 1 or when there is only one player left. Out of 108 participants who signed up to play, only 104 participants picked up their initial target cards. Currently, as of Thursday, Nov. 19, there are 20 players remaining in the game.

"[The game] will have two winners," Gamez said. "The first winner will be for the last resident standing. This means they are the last player in the game who has not been eliminated by any other players. The second winner will be the person who has the most eliminations throughout the game."

The process of the game is straightforward. All players have assignment cards with their target's picture on them; once they eliminate their target, they take their target's assignment card. The people in the game are the players, the targets and the hosts, who organize the game and also participate as players and targets. Targets who get eliminated, or people selected by the hosts, become enforcers who monitor the rules.

"The purpose of the game is to be the 'last man standing', so to speak," sixth floor resident assistant Junior Larry Walker Jr. said.

The game safe zones include: the cafeteria, classrooms, work, the library, dorm rooms, elevators and church. In these places, targets are safe from their pursuers; however, once they exit these places, the game recommences.

Those who registered were asked to keep in mind the game is a live action lifestyle-invading game. For this reason, players can forfeit to a host at anytime.

"The whole being secretive and eliminating someone was probably the best part," freshman music education major Chad Mogus said.

From the beginning of the game until the very end, contenders must always be aware.

"My favorite part is the 'element of surprise,' so to speak; you never know who your killer is," freshman communications design major Phillip Dahir said.

The game has limits with the range of play, which only includes Commerce.

The most important aspect of the game is the item that players eliminate their target with, a happy face sticker.

Through this technique any violence that may occur, or any chance of any injury incurring, is eliminated.

"In order to eliminate your target from the game, you put a happy face sticker on a players arm," Gamez said. "It isn't done forcefully, out of hostility or any other form of violence. The Whitley residents all understand that it is just a game and are happy to give up their player card when they have been eliminated. Residents stop by the front desk several times a day to tell the story of how they were eliminated from the game, and 99% of the stories have been filled with smiles and laughter."

Most of the participants are happy with this elimination tactic, but some had suggestions on how to improve the game.

"I thought we should have used dart guns," Mogus said.

Many players get into the game to a scary extent.

"I don't think it's violent, but some people take it too seriously, I think," Dahir said. "They'll do anything to not get eliminated."

The game's ulterior motive, to entertain and bring residents together promoting friendships, which were not there previously, has been achieved in many people's eyes.

"I know students are enjoying the game because we have received numerous requests for the program to be repeated in the spring," Gamez said. "I also hear residents talking to their friends about the game, see people chasing each other around the hall laughing and receive positive feedback from faculty and staff who have heard about the program from excited students."