Humans Versus Zombies

Nerf guns, sock grenades, people running, stalking and chasing each other. This week at Utah State University, the game Humans versus Zombies has made the sidewalks of USU an exciting place. Not everyone has the same opinion about the game. Many fear that having nerf guns on campus is inappropriate due to recent campus shootings across the nation in past years.

“For most of my high school career I did research for about three years on school shootings with my theatre program, so I understand why people would be anxious about it,” said Bryn hall. “That’s why I think the rules are so strict with it. Your guns have to be bright colors. It’s very kid friendly all things considering, so it’s just kind of one of those things that you have to let go of because it’s just a game.”

Dallen Baldwin, another participant of the game, also agrees that the game has the intent to be nothing more than good, clean, fun for students and the use of nerf guns does not affect that.

Hall and fellow participant, Dallin Burns can understand where the complaints are coming from, but that doesn’t stop them from participating avidly in the event.

Burns, a zombie, and Hall, a human, dueled each other on the sidewalk Friday afternoon. Hall stunned Burns with her Nerf gun before he could tag her and turn her into a zombie.

“Being a human, it’s a way to have your adrenaline pumping the whole week” Burns said about the whole experience of the HVZ game.

Many students participate in this experience every semester. Hall says she does it for the friendships that come out of it.

“If you sign up for it then you clearly want to do it, Hall said. I feel that it’s kind of a way to make friends in a sense and see people who kind of enjoy the same things that you do and can have fun doing things like this.”

Burns did it for others reasons.

“I like zombies, I thought it looked cool,” said Burns.

“I think that regardless whether nerf guns are allowed nothing is going to stop them. It’s not the person using it, it’s the intent,” Baldwin said. “Nerf guns are made for ages seven through twelve, they’re for kids.”