Photo illustration by Matt Weir / The Collegian
Robert West / McClatchy Tribune

In a perfect world, humans and zombies could roam free, hand in hand, fighting over silly things like whether to watch “Shawn of the Dead” on Blu-ray or play some “Left for Dead” on Xbox.

Instead, chaos descends in the form of flesh-eating zombies packing purple, orange and yellow toy guns. Sound impossible? Think again because, a live-action game of Humans vs. Zombies may soon creep its way onto the California State University, Fresno campus.

In a meeting held in the Henry Madden Library on Oct. 1, students interested in establishing the Humans vs. Zombies club pled their case to university officials.

Representatives from the student involvement center, the risk management and sustainability department and the university police department were present to here a proposal for what president Charles Naurath describes as a more enjoyable, yet complicated game of tag.

“When compared to Greek life, which allows drinking and partying, and intramural sports like rugby, soccer and fencing, we are a pretty chill group,â€Â Naurath said. “I am hoping that this will interest students to join and play alongside us.â€Â

Unlike the common playground game of cops and cops, Humans vs. Zombies involves more than shouting, “tag you’re it.â€Â

Instead of physically tagging your opponent, students who assume the role of “humansâ€Â in the game use Nerf Gun shooters and makeshift “sock grenadesâ€Â as protection from their living-dead opponents.

Students participating as “zombies,â€Â likewise, survive the game by resorting to a more “Donner partyâ€Â approach, where they figuratively feast on their human opponnts to hold their stake in the game.

Vice president of the Humans vs. Zombies club, Krystal Mora, said the idea might sound freaky to those unfamiliar with the concept of the game. But, she says once the image of zombies trying to eat humans disappears, it̢۪s not as freaky.

“People of all social groups can come together, interact and possibly pick up new friends along the way,â€Â Mora said. “This club will take us out of our study element and let us take a breather.â€Â

The game could soon cover the entire Fresno State campus for a 24-hour, seven-day period if the proposal clears.

“As of today more than 200 universities, high schools, military bases and summer camps call themselves Humans vs. Zombies participants,â€Â Naurath said.

The question, however, is will Fresno State?

Until further research on the game can be conducted, the game the club scheduled for Oct.25 will no longer take place, according to leadership development and activities advisor Josh Edrington. The game would have lasted through Oct. 31.

“As a result we are working collaboratively with the various areas across campus to determine if this is something that can feasibly happen at Fresno State,” Edrington said.

To date the university has not given permission or signed off on the activities. Rather, officials are researching other universities where the Humans vs. Zombies games have been denied.

Most of the Humans vs. Zombies games have taken place at universities located on the east coast, according to Naurath. If approved, Fresno State would join CSU, Chico as the first universities in California to allow the Humans vs. Zombies games to take place.

“Forefathersâ€Â Christopher Weed and Brad Sappington developed the game in 2005 at Goucher College in Baltimore, Md.

Now, every Halloween at Goucher College, when the clock strikes midnight a new game of Humans vs. Zombies begins.

Still, there are barriers to receiving permission to play the game on campus.

Questions surrounding the game, such as who will be participating, when and where the activities will take place, will the games disrupt classes or students not participating, potential risks and concerns from campus police ultimately stand in the way of the game being played.

Naurath believes that the administration fears students might injure themselves by running into other students or falling onto the ground.
Some students hoping to play the game, like Naurath, see it differently.

“This serves as a perfect opportunity to dress in zombie attire and chase people,â€Â said kinsiology major and secretary of Humans vs. Zombies club, Maricela Daini Vargas.

“It’s okay to let go and be a little childish,â€Â Vargas said. “After all we are human, or maybe zombies.â€Â