Spring Break
Not your average game
Erin Edwards
Issue date: 9/23/08 Section: Features
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Known as the ECU "Capture the Flag" group, friends and new recruits gather on campus to play a game consisting of two teams whose purpose is to gather the other team's flag, while protecting their own.
"Back as a freshman, my friends and I that lived in Garrett Hall were bored one weekend and decided to host a dorm-wide capture the flag game," said Yazid Al-Fayyad, an administrator of ECU's league. "Now, we usually have 25-50 people play every game, but it usually depends on the weekend and how much we decide to market the game to others."
Sometimes, this can draw games out past an hour, but Al-Fayyad believes it is good, clean fun for everyone.
"There are no drugs or alcohol allowed at the game, and if a student is found with it, they are disqualified from playing," Al-Fayyad said. "We try to make the game comfortable for everyone to play."
According to Al-Fayyad, the object of the game is to locate and retrieve the other team's flag. The section of campus between the Student Recreation Center and Brewster building is split in half, with each team having their entire side of campus to hide the flag.
Two leaders are selected and pick teams at random at the start of the game. After players are distributed, each team retreats to their own side to hide the team flag. The flag must be visible from all sides and accessible by at least seven feet. Teams cannot place their flag in "dead zones," defined by being in an enclosed or boxed area.
Along with guarding their own flag, players on each team also go after the other team's flag. In order to win the game, the flag must be obtained from the other side and brought back to the opposing team's territory. If a player can make it back with the opposing teams flag without being intercepted or tagged then the team wins.
"From playing it as a child, I thought it would be fun to have the chance to play it now with friends, instead of going out," said Samuel Vermeulen, who co-founded the game with Al-Fayyad. "It's fun and a good way to bring together friends, old and new."
The ECU police department approves of the game. Al-Fayyad says the department is cooperative and allows students to play on campus late at night.
"We have never gotten into trouble with campus police," Al-Fayyad said. "We always tell them in advance when our group will be playing. If we ever did get into trouble, it would be because of someone who is new to the game and brought something that they should not, such as alcohol."
The next capture the flag came will be held on Sept. 27 at 10 p.m. All interested students should meet outside the Joyner Library pillars.
This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.
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