ZOMBIES TRIUMPH

Saturday night, before the Human army marched into its final battle, senior math major Tevis Tsai praised his tattered comrades.

“Congratulations on surviving,” he told them.

About 30 Humans had endured two weeks of dodging Zombie predators, who stalked them on McKeldin Mall, in their dorms and across just about every corner of the campus other than academic buildings.

By the night’s end, the entire Human army had perished.

But for the leaders of the campus’ third incarnation of Humans vs. Zombies, the campus-wide game that pitches NERF-gun toting “Humans” against “Zombies” — denoted by the bandanas worn on students’ heads — Saturday night marked a success.

Last year, the Human ranks withered before the game even started. Police halted the game after raising concerns about students painting their NERF guns and carrying them into classrooms. Humans had used the guns to “stun” their Zombie foes, who could in turn convert Humans into Zombies by untying bandanas laced around their arms.

This year, the group sponsoring the game, the NERF Activity Society, agreed to put academic buildings off-limits, and Humans vs. Zombies continued with more safety rules, but fewer numbers.

“There are less people and there is a visible change in dynamic,” said senior engineering major Shalev NessAiver, who in the game goes by Cap’n Rotbeard. “There are less zombies. ... Usually there are hundreds.”

Still, NERF Activity Society President Sean McCready insisted safety is a priority for the group.

Zombies can turn Humans at any time during the two-week game, leaving Humans in a constant state of paranoia and looking over their shoulders on the way to class. But with the new safety regulations, NessAiver, who led the Zombie team, said the game did not disrupt day-to-day campus life.

“We stress safety rules, and we are not antagonizing anyone,” NessAiver said. “We are trying to be as careful as possible. We are technically not doing anything wrong. It’s a game of accelerated tag with toys. And I hope people don’t take issue with that. There is no reason to stop us.”

And the Humans and Zombies weren’t stopping for anything Saturday night as they ran around the campus for the culmination of this year’s game. Early in the night, Humans gathered beneath a crescent moon to strategize before venturing out into the dark campus.

The Zombies stalked them in groups, communicating via walkie-talkies to hunt down the remaining Humans. Later in the evening, the Humans gathered at the sundial on the mall — their safe spot. With NERF guns out, they moved in a protective circle toward the Memorial Chapel while Zombies circled like vultures around them.

“Let’s face it: We are a group of nerds,” McCready said. “A lot of players don’t like organized sports and it’s a great excuse to get out and run around with other people, which I think is fantastic.”

Since Humans vs. Zombies first started in the fall of 2006, the game has become much more organized, McCready said. Now, McCready and other group moderators plan scenarios where players meet up for a challenge weeks in advance and set rules have been laid down and enforced. There are now rules about the kind of gear players can use and places where they cannot play the game.

“It’s a lot safer and more organized,” McCready said. “Before when we did scenarios, moderators thought of them on the spot. Now we plan weeks ahead of time, thus it’s more fair and more fun for everybody.”

Now that rules have been more defined and this year’s game ran smoothly, Tsai’s only hope is that Humans vs. Zombies lives on.

“As a moderator, I would really like Humans vs. Zombies to survive me,” Tsai said.

tousignant at umdbk dot com