For the last couple weeks or so, there’s been an excited buzz about Whitworth’s campus. Like the swine flu last fall, it spread from dorm to dorm gaining more momentum as it went–and few were immune. This excitement got more and more noticeable until it was impossible to ignore, culminating last Saturday in the greatest thing EVER to occur at Whitworth.
Of course, I’m talking about the giant battle of people sporting foam and duct tape weapons and armor in the middle of the Loop. Officially advertised as “A New Reckoning,” it was hugely successful, with a couple hundred people turning out by my estimates. It started with a bunch of one-on-one fights which, although entertaining, were nothing compared to the massive all-out battle which occurred afterward.
In this final fight, the participants split into two sides and faced off for a last-man-standing-wins battle for the ages. At this point, people were yelling and cheering, but when the time came to actually charge, it turned out a little disappointing. People ran a little ways, but then slowed down and just kind of stared at each other; eventually, a bit of a brawl ensued, but the whole thing ended in a stalemate. Still, it was a pretty cool thing that happened.
In the brief time I got to watch these goings-on, I was struck by what a good thing this could be for the Whitworth community. I personally would not have expected so many folks to turn out for it, but word apparently got around the dorms; Prime Times were used to make weapons, and people came dressed from head to foot in the most delightfully absurd outfits. In short, people simply had a whole lot of fun on Saturday, April 24.
Because of the positive feelings toward the event, and combined with some conversations I’ve had with people who wish the same, I think the battle in the Loop should be revisited. In fact, given the overwhelmingly large turnout, it could take the place of other, less popularly attended events (I’m looking at you, Frisbee Fridays), even to the point where there could be a Whitworth Battle Club or something. It’d be really easy to do, too; I mean, the weapons are already made, and that’s about all that’s needed.
The benefits of such a tradition would be revolutionary. First of all, Friday Battles (as I’m going to call it from now on) would serve as a wonderful form of stress relief. Physical exertion itself is a good reprieve from the routine of school work. How much better would it be to get that along with the satisfaction of pummeling somebody alongside the head! Fabricating weapons and flags could be a useful creative outlet. Friends would be made, and good cheer would abound. It would serve as a great attraction to pre-frosh.
Perhaps a long-table feast could be instituted as a celebration afterward.
Apart from fostering a generally festive atmosphere about campus, having weekly battles could also serve as a forum for people to work out their differences the old-fashioned way. By fighting with harmless weapons, people could take out their aggression with a sense of equality and fairness. And it wouldn’t just have to be limited to personal disputes; enforcements of the Big 3 could change to simply requiring the perp to take on the offensive line of the Whitworth football team. Eventually, such a system could catch on across the county and abroad, effectively replacing the peace studies major and saving Whitworth some more money.
Of course, there are risks to promoting an activity like this. People might take things too far, laying siege to the president’s mansion; we want to show Beck Taylor some hospitality, and consistent fighting might compromise that. Also, I would be willing to bet that Friday Battles would lead to the campus sectioning into dorm communities. This, of course, would give an unfair advantage to Duvall, which was built, complete with bridge and moat, under specific pressure from the Spokane Renaissance Society.
Still, “a New Reckoning” was such a success that I would be willing to face the risks in the hope that it will happen again. People had fun, good feelings abounded, injuries were very minimal and people are still enthused. The benefits are simply undeniable and for that reason, I think it should be a continued activity.
Gjefle is a junior majoring in English and biology. Comments can be sent to andrew.gjefle@whitworthian.com.
OPINION: Repeating LARPing event a good idea
Published: Monday, May 3, 2010
Updated: Tuesday, May 4, 2010 16:05
 "Photo: Lucas Kok/Whitworthian")
Lucas Kok/Whitworthian
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