'Assassins' game a surprise hit for residents of Graham

By Matthew Meyerhofer

The Graham complex has been host to a game of mystery and suspense since early last week.

As a result, it isn't uncommon to find residents traveling in pairs and groups, engaging in acts of secrecy, treachery, and occasionally, some pretty bizarre behavior.

"They just run into my room and say, 'Watch me! Watch me!' I have no idea who some of these people are," recalled Graham resident Leah Macatangay. "They just run in because my door is open to make sure they don't get shot."

The reason for the intrigue and suspense is that Graham is currently hosting a game of "Assassins."

"Graham decided that Assassins sounded like a fun event to bring everyone together," Kyle Kelly, a representative on Graham's Community Council, which is hosting the event, said. "I think it adds a certain element of suspense and excitement to what is usually regarded as the most monotonous quarter here."

The rules for Assassins are fairly simple. Each participant is given a squirt gun and an assignment by e-mail informing him or her of his or her first target. The object is to catch the other person alone somewhere within the Graham complex and shoot him or her with the squirt gun, thus eliminating that person from the game. Once eliminated, his or her target becomes the "assassin's" next assignment.

Because there can't be any witnesses to eliminations, the game has created a system of temporary alliances and frantic behavior to avoid being caught alone.

"People walk around in pairs so they can't be 'killed' and whisper in the hallways about who's already out or who got eliminated most recently," Kelly said.

Stacy Hartman, Graham's assistant resident director, is responsible for making sure the game runs smoothly. She was responsible for the initial assignments to each of the participants, and she keeps track of who is left in the game.

A total of 89 people signed up to play the game, which started on Monday Feb. 9. As of Tuesday evening, there were 39 residents remaining.

Sophomore Karl Kuehn was one of the early 'victims.'

"I was in the game for about a day," Kuehn said. "I got killed because someone was hiding in the laundry room, waiting for me to come down."

The "assassins" have reason to take their missions seriously. The last assassin left in the game will take home a gift certificate worth about $90. The prize is financed by a combination of the $1 entrance fee each participant paid and financial backing from the Community Council.

With prize money at stake, the game has given rise to a great deal of bizarre activity within the residence halls.

"Some people got really into it," Kuehn said. "There are people waiting in the lobby, just hiding. It's like, 'I wonder what you're doing here.'"

Some participants have even resorted to removing name tags from their doors and putting them up elsewhere in an attempt to confuse their attackers.

"There is definitely added tension and excitement around the Graham complex," Kelly said.

Even some residents that decided they didn't want to participate are getting some entertainment value out of the game.

"It's really funny because you're just sitting in your room doing homework and you can hear people yelling in the hall," Macatangay said. "You hear people freak out."

The Graham Community Council decided to sponsor the game in part to help bring the community together.

"Even though we're a small community, there's still some division within the actual Graham buildings," Kelly said. "Assassins involves residents in each building, and allows us to get to know people in buildings other than our own."

Kuehn said he is glad Graham is participating in the game.

"I think it was a good idea for Community Council to do because people are having fun with it," he said. "I'm sure people are meeting people, because if they have a target that they don't know, then they have to search them out."

Kelly said, so far, the game is a success.

"Everyone involved has responded positively," she said. "There were some doubts in the beginning about whether or not residents would get into it, but those have been eliminated."

The game is so popular among residents that those who have been eliminated may get a second chance.

"There's talk of hosting a second round of the game in spring quarter," Kelly said.

û Contact Matthew Meyerhofer at (408) 554-4546 or mmeyerhofer@scu.edu.