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Berkeley Chancellor on Campus Violence

Recently the AAUP listserv has run a serious of emails from faculty upset by students involved in a game called “Humans and Zombies.” Apparently, students involved in the game stalk each other on campus and shoot each other with pellet guns that look realistic except for an orange tip on the muzzle..

This game worries me that an atmosphere too close to the Tea Party rhetoric may be growing on campus, but what can be done?  Isn’t this a form of pornography? Do we have rule banning porno on campus?

Since I believe our students are adults, I think their game of Humans and Zombies is nothing that can be dealt with by making rules. BUT, this does seem to be place where there is real need for leadership. Given what happened at Virginia and in Arizona, isn’t it time for the leadership … the Administration, Deans, student leaders, The Daily,the athletes and their coaches to speak out?

Ed. Update: A UW colleague informs me that

Ya, you are wrong and so’s your blog, Steve.  The HvZ rules do not allow pellet or airsot guns.  Foam darts and socks are the weapon specified by the rules.  Moreover, these weapons are not to be displayed or used inside academic buildings. http://humansvszombies.org/rules”

Perhaps he is right, however there is a LOT more to worry about here that students shooting marshmallow gund, if that were all there was. I have no idea if the UW version follows the “rules” from Gaucher not do I know who is responsible, on our campus for enforcing the rules.  Do the uW police know the rules and are they authorized to enforce them?

Grankly, I also worry about blasé attitudes toward this sort of cowboys and indians game among young adults on a college campus. I grew up in a racist, antisemitic part of Boston and I remember all to well games like this when I was a kid.  Aside form being a victim in some of my neoghbors games, I remeb=mber having to be taught by my father that ti was wrong to play a game wherr the “others” were the “N word”.

As I said above, I do not believe in treating students as children but surely there is some place for leadership?

Robert J. Birgeneau, Chancellor at UC Berkeley, spoke his piece about the larger issue in an email:

From: Robert J. Birgeneau, Chancellor Date: Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 10:30 AM Subject: Chancellor Birgeneau comments on Arizona shootings To: “Staff, All Academic Titles, Other Members of the Campus Community, Deans, Directors, Department Chairs, Students,”

Dear members of our campus community:

This weekend’s shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the deaths and injuries of many others in the horrific event in Tucson, Arizona[,] have shocked our nation. We here at UC Berkeley offer our sincere condolences to everyone who has been personally affected by this tragedy.

Such a brutal and violent attack on an individual who has devoted herself to public service is deeply regrettable. It calls upon us as an academic community to stop and ponder the climate in which such an act can be contemplated, even by a mind that is profoundly disturbed. A climate in which demonization of others goes unchallenged and hateful speech is tolerated can lead to such a tragedy. I believe that it is not a coincidence that this calamity has occurred in a state which has legislated discrimination against undocumented persons. This same mean-spirited xenophobia played a major role in the defeat of the Dream Act by our legislators in Washington, leaving many exceptionally talented and deserving young people, including our own undocumented students, painfully in limbo with regard to their futures in this country.

On our own campus, and throughout all the campuses of the University of California, we must continue to work toward a climate of equity and inclusion for all. We must be vigilant to condemn hate speech and acts of vandalism on our campuses by those wanting to promote enmity. We must work to support dialogue about our differences and eschew expressions of demonization of others, including virulent attacks on Israel, anti-Muslim graffiti, racism towards African-Americans, Chicano/Latinos and other underrepresented minority groups, and homophobic acts. Continuing to support our principles of community will ensure a better and safer campus. We must do this now so that our students, as future leaders of this great country, will continue to set the standard for a better and safer nation.

Robert J. Birgeneau
Chancellor, UC Berkeley


0 Comments Add Yours ↓

  1. theaveeditor #
    1

    Someone emailed me claiming that the guns at the UW are not pellet guns?

    I assume he is distinguishing air guns from pellet guns?

    Interesting at least one vendor or airsoft replicas of the Arizona weapon is now out of stock:

    http://www.cheap-airsoft-gun.com/glock-airsoft-replica.html

    Try this experiment. Get a real Glock. Paint a orange band on it. Can you tell it from the replica?

    Does this make anyone feel better?

  2. theaveeditor #
    2

    I also DID look up the rules, ay least the original rules:

    Are these enforced here, by who?

    Equipment
    This gear is required for all players:

    hvz_rules_equipment• Bandana

    • Foam Dart Blaster and/or socks

    • One 3×5 index card

    SafetyRules
    Rules created for the safety of all players are strictly enforced. Violation of safety rules will result in a ban from the game.

    1. No realistic looking weaponry.
    2. Blasters may not be visible inside of academic buildings or jobs on campus.
    3. Players may not use cars.
    4. Darts must not hurt on impact.*

    *If you’re not sure about this, fire it at point-blank range on some bare skin. If it leaves a welt, then don’t use it. If you’re still not sure, just speak with a moderator.

    SafeZoneshvz_rules_safezone_toilet
    Players cannot be tagged or shot in the following areas:

    • Dorm rooms
    • Bathrooms
    • Academic buildings
    • Library
    • Sports and Rec Center (Gym)
    • Health Centerhvz_rules_safezone_tp
    • Dining Halls.

    HumanRules
    hvz_rules_humanrules_girlStaying On Campus: Humans must sleep on campus. If you need to leave campus for longer than 24 hours, we apologize, but there are no exceptions.

    I.D. Number: Humans must keep one index card with their unique identification number on them at all times.

    Stunning a Zombie: Humans may stun a Zombie for 15 minutes by blasting them with a dart blaster or throwing a sock at them.

    When Tagged By a Zombie: When tagged by a Zombie, a Human is required to distribute their ID card. One hour after being tagged, a Human becomes a member of the Zombie team. Wear your bandanna around your head – you are now allowed to tag other Humans.

    Wearing a Headband: Humans must wear a headband around an arm or leg to identify them as players of the game. (This headband will come in handy when you become a zombie!)

    ZombieRules
    Feeding: Zombies must feed every 48 hours. A zombie feeds by reporting their tag on the website.hvz_rules_zombierules_girl

    Wearing Your Headband: Zombies must wear a bandanna around their heads at all times. The Original Zombie does not need to wear a headband.

    Tagging: A tag is a firm touch to any part of a Human. After tagging a Human the Zombie must collect their ID card. Tags must be reported within three hours.

    Getting Shot: When shot with a dart blaster or hit with a sock a Zombie is stunned for 15 minutes. A stunned zombie may not interact with the game in any way. This includes shielding other zombies from bullets or continuing to run toward a human. If shot while stunned, the zombie’s stun timer is reset back to 15 minutes.

    OtherRules

    Blasting Non-Players: Blasting non-players with darts is a bannable offense.

    Non-Player Interference: People who are not registered participants may not directly interact with the game. This includes bringing food to humans or spying for either team.

    Safe Zones: A zombie must have both feet outside of a safe zone to tag a human. Humans can stun zombies from inside of a safe-zone.

    No Shields: Zombies may not use shields to deflect foam darts or socks.

    Athletes: Athletes are safe during official practices, but not on the way to or from practice.

    Required Academic Events: Similarly, students at required academic events are safe for the duration of the event (even if this event is in a free-play zone), but they are not safe on the way to or from the event.

  3. theaveeditor #
    3

    Having grown up in a very antisemitic and racist community, I all to well remember the impact on me of some of the games like this when I was a child younger than any of our students. Is any one else disturbed by the suggestion of racism in this game being played by young adults?


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