You’ve just had a long week of midterm exams, papers, and assignments and have been looking for some serious downtime when you walk into the student center and see a bunch of your friends hanging out, relaxing, and engaging in an all-out video game competition.
MU Gamers United, a new interest group on campus, was created this semester to bring all University gamers together as a group of friends committed to playing games, going on trips, and getting more involved with the University community, senior anthropology major and creator Andrew Colucci explained.
According to their Facebook page, MU Gamers United are a “bunch of video game enthusiasts, card players, and strategy game lovers who have banded together and are taking over campus, one gaming tournament at a time.”
In only their second month of existence, they have amassed over 50 people in their Facebook group and have about 35 members who regularly attend meetings.
“Over the summer [as a freshman orientation leader], I met all 905 of the freshman and quite a few of them were interested in starting a video game club and played video games, board games, and card games. They were always wondering if there was some sort of club or organization on campus that adhered to their interests,” Colucci said.
He said his original plan, coinciding with the start of the fall semester, was to get a social club going. “It has always been a dream of mine to start a social club on campus, almost like a breakfast club for video gamers,” he said.
“We’re always told as freshman to get involved on campus and it’s sometimes difficult to get involved when there isn’t something available that you are very interested in. When kids came to me, I saw this opportunity as my time to start a club that many different people would be interested in,” Colucci explained.
Although the group has gone through the process of becoming a University recognized interest group, they are not yet considered an official club on campus. They are, however, currently going through the Student Government Association (SGA) process to become a University recognized club. “We are hopeful that the SGA will officially accept our interest group as an official Monmouth club and are willing to complete all necessary requirements to get us there,” he said.
Heather Kelly, Assistant Director of Student Activities, explained that first, the group must create a constitution that not only states the purpose of the club, but also explicitly allows for all students at the University, regardless of race, gender, orientation, etc. to join.
The group will then be allowed to hold and advertise two interest meetings on campus to increase their membership. After they hold their interest meetings, the group will go before the SGA Senate where members will look at several factors.
Director of Student Activities Amy Bellina explained that SGA will look at factors, such as whether the club has potential to stay active, has enough members and a capacity to grow, will leave a lasting impression on the University, what goals the club has, and how the club will benefit the student body.
After the club presents the necessary criteria, SGA will vote and Chief Justice, Michael Migliaro, will deliver their decision to MU Gamers United as to whether they are approved as a new University club, Bellina said.
Bellina expressed, “It seems as if there is a very strong gaming interest on campus and it’s nice to see that people are taking the opportunity to make a club for it at the University.”
Migliaro said, “I personally believe the culture behind gaming has been up and coming. I think this club will give Monmouth a leading edge against other Universities giving our school national recognition in large gaming events.”
Throughout the course of the semester, MU Gamers United plans to host several tournaments and trips both on and off campus. Last Friday, Oct.18, the club hosted a Super Smash Brothers Brawl (SSBB) tournament in a Howard Hall computer lab where 38 people showed off their gaming skills by competing with each other.
For those unfamiliar with SSBB, the Nintendo Wii game allows you to battle with friends by using old character favorites such as Yoshi, Pikachu, Mario, and Link to knock your opponent off of the screen.
Colucci explained how he was rather impressed with the event turnout. Since the tournament received such a large attendance, the group will continue competing later this week in order to finish and declare winners. “The tournament allowed for people to meet and discuss their mutual interests,” he said.
This past weekend, around 15 members of the group ventured to Yestercades, a retro video game arcade located in Red Bank that features both classic and modern consoles and games.
Some future trips that the group has planned are to Dave and Buster’s, a full-service restaurant and video arcade in New York, and iPlay America in Freehold, which has laser tag among other gaming activities. “The idea behind these trips, since we’re not an actual club on campus yet and as an interest group we can’t organize trips to certain places without University support, is that we go as a group of friends who like to organize events and hang out together,” Colucci said.
“I want this to be an opportunity for other card players, other video gamers, and other strategy gamers to meet some new friends. Those are my hopes, wishes, and dreams for this club,” he added.
Freshman animation major Missy Thomas, who helped create the group with Colucci, said, “I want this club to be a place where students can unwind with friends after a long week, a place where you are not judged and everyone in the group has been amazing. If you don’t play a game, it’s no big deal. We teach each other.”
MU Gamers United currently meets every Wednesday in Howard Hall Room 109 from 2:30 – 3:45 pm. The club welcomes all interested students.
PHOTO TAKEN by Brittany Hardaker
