By Johnny Otley, Contributing Writer
If, by chance, you had the pleasure of watching students sprint around campus this past week with nerf guns and purple bandanas, you have undoubtedly witnessed Asbury University’s sixth annual game of Taggers vs. Survivors, hosted by Last Man Standing Club.
This is a competitive game in which both groups, the survivors and the taggers, struggle to dominate campus. The survivors are equipped with Nerf guns and socks to use as weapons, while taggers, identified by a purple headband, attempt to tag them. If they successfully tag a survivor, that survivor is forced to join the team of taggers.
A total of 230 people participated this year. The game started with 200 survivors and about 30 taggers and ended with 20 survivors and 210 taggers. This was much bigger than last year, which “barely scraped 200 participants,” according to Andrew Higginson, this year’s Taggers vs. Survivors coordinator.
“The greater numbers did lead to some new challenges, but it also led to more interactions among students,” Higginson said. “It was probably one of our best years yet. With all the teamwork and community, this year went down a whole lot smoother than prior years.”
Higginson explained that his goal was to create a fellowship which strengthens community and builds both old and new relationships between players, even those outside of Asbury. Because about 25 high school students participated this year, he hopes that the positive impact will reach the whole Wilmore community.
The atmosphere that Taggers vs. Survivors hopes to bring to Asbury and Wilmore is one of both team work and community.
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“Everyone sees the event going on: professors, faculty, and other students to name a few,” Higginson said. “They watch what is going on with the game and have a good laugh.”
Senior CJ Moritz has participated as a survivor for the past three years.
“I just enjoy the strategy of sneaking around campus all week, and witnessing so many survivors come together as a team,” he said.
Moritz also said his favorite aspect is “seeing the true colors of everyone,” in regards to sportsmanship, and watching students “step up as leaders” during the missions.
The Last Man Standing Club hosts several activities throughout the year. They will host a game called Assassin later this semester and a game of Laser Tag next semester. To get involved, there is a meeting on Oct. 11 at 10 p.m. in the Student Center, or you can sign up for a future event.
