Humans Versus Zombies 2022!

The zombies are invading campus! It is that time of the school year again when students gear up for the game of Humans versus Zombies at Vanguard University. 

College students have busy days filled with classes, sports, homework, jobs, and extracurriculars. It’s an overwhelming time for young adults, but Vanguard University does an outstanding job at incorporating school-wide events where fun memories are made. Humans versus Zombies is an opportunity for students to take some focus off of their work and get to act like children once again. 

Humans versus Zombies is a school-wide game of tag. It begins with the Original Zombie (OZ) whose identity is hidden. The rest of the players begin as humans which are indicated by a bandana being worn on their upper arm. The OZ starts the game by tagging the first human who then turns into a regular zombie. The aim of the game is to be the last human standing or to be the zombie with the most tags. 

This is an intense game where students arrive at their classes thirty minutes early and sprint across campus in hopes of avoiding any zombies that may be lingering. Humans can be equipped with nerf guns that shoot soft bullets or rolled-up socks. By hitting a zombie with one of these “weapons”, zombies are stunned for ten seconds, giving the humans a chance to get away.

Once the humans are turned into zombies, they must move their bandanas from their arms to their heads. These bandanas should be worn at all times. The moderators, students in charge of making sure players follow the rules, must be informed on the tags each zombie acquires. To do so, zombies must take a picture of each player’s game card or write down their student ID.

Faith Benavente, a junior and communications major, is the Program Board Lead Coordinator of Humans vs Zombies 2022- She also helped coordinate it in 2021. 

She mentioned that her favorite memory from Humans Versus Zombies 2021 was the zombies’ use of pool noodles to tag the humans. Due to COVID-19, students still had to follow social distancing protocols which is why the pool noodles came into play. She also added that some students even broke the pool noodles apart to use them as nunchucks.

I played Humans versus Zombies both my freshman and sophomore year and I am extremely excited for it once again. 

During my freshman year, I realized that this game gave me an enormous adrenaline rush. You are always on the lookout for someone coming from all directions.

Students do not always know everyone who is playing so it is also a way to meet new people. Students will make fellow human friends that will have their back or the zombies will team up to take out the humans. 

Last year’s game looked different, but the game makers still made it hard. Students were on campus but all classes were online. The game makers assigned tasks to get students to move and leave their safe spaces. 

I remember getting trapped by Needham Chapel for three hours and was lucky enough to bring my laptop so I could join my zoom class. 

This year, the Program Board has come up with a new theme, Hunger Games. Students should be excited for the mysterious missions that will arise this game season.

I highly recommend participating in this year’s Humans versus Zombies event because once you graduate college, you will never have an opportunity like this one again. 

This year, Humans vs Zombies will take place from Feb. 7 through Feb. 10. There is one mission every night and the final mission determines the winners.

Get ready lions. It is time to get your game face on!