Not long ago, calling someone a 鈥渘erd鈥� was an insult; a form of bullying. These days, with superhero movies ruling the box office and 70 percent of video game enthusiasts averaging age 30, being called a nerd is no more than a friendly jab.
Alex Pennington
When Alex Pennington, a sophomore majoring in management information systems, set out to organize Wichita State鈥檚 Nerd Union, he tapped into that trend of nerdiness and started a real buzz on the Wichita State campus.
Nerd Union has roots in 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Student Activity Committee (SAC) which, until this year, had a gaming committee to host events like competitive video gaming, board games and other entertainment on campus. They were the reason Pennington joined the SAC, and when the organization folded the gaming committee into the general events committee, he felt bothered.
鈥淭he people I met there, the stuff that we had in common 鈥� I felt that it was a group that was important to me,鈥� said Pennington. 鈥淚t gave me the ability to meet other people like me.鈥�
That鈥檚 part of the draw of Nerd Union: A lot of students fall through the cracks between students groups, which are an important aspect of college life and an opportunity to develop experience and leadership skills. Nerd Union is also a social opportunity for those who might otherwise feel out of place.
Ally Guerrero, for example, takes the spin on sterotypes one step further: girls can like nerd stuff too.
Guerrero is a junior from Garden City pursuing a degree in physical therapy. She鈥檚 into video games, card games and Marvel comics, and says that without Nerd Union she probably wouldn鈥檛 have many friends on campus or in Wichita.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great place to make friends and have fun,鈥� she said, 鈥渁 mini-reprieve from the everyday stress of classes.鈥�
Nerdiness for everyone
Nerd Union, which has around 25 members, is open to anyone who shares their interested, even a little.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a very open group,鈥� said Pennington. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to be hardcore to join. We change up the activities each week and we鈥檙e pretty relaxed about attendance, so there鈥檚 no big commitment. Anyone can drop in and just have fun.鈥�
Beyond its weekly activities, the group鈥檚 first big event will be a Live Action Role Playing (LARP) tournament, 鈥淲ar of Thrones,鈥� word of which has started to spread the group鈥檚 name around campus. Larping is something Nerd Union members have done among themselves before, but the idea to host a huge mock battle came when someone suggested that they get the fraternities together for it.
鈥淢y first thought was, 鈥榯he fraternity guys are just going to laugh at us. They鈥檙e not going to think this will be a good idea,鈥欌�� said Pennignton. 鈥淏ut when I talked to them they were excited. It surprised me to see how much interest there鈥檚 been from all over campus, from groups and places that are not typically nerd-zones.鈥�
While Pennington is planning to make the LARP tournament a yearly event, the Nerd Union also has other ideas, like reviving the gaming committee鈥檚 most popular event, 鈥淧okefest,鈥� a celebration of all things Pokemon.
鈥淥ur main focus is on our immediate members, though,鈥� Pennington said. 鈥淲e want to provide week-to-week activities, but we also want to reach out and provide entertainment for the entire campus.鈥�
While all things geek might be trending right now, for lifelong nerds the experience of having their interests actually be interesting to the general public is something that鈥檚 hard to get used to. Still, the change is welcome.
鈥淲ith 鈥榃ar of Thrones鈥� coming up,鈥� said Pennignton, 鈥渨e鈥檝e started to hear our name around campus, and that鈥檚 new. Lots of people seem to know about the Nerd Union, and we overhear people saying cool things about us. We鈥檝e actually made an impression on people 鈥� it鈥檚 exciting, and I hope it really catches on at Wichita State.鈥�
Guerrero agrees.
鈥淚 think the Nerd Union is going to have a grand influence on 麻豆传媒,鈥� she said.
The Nerd Union meets twice a week, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, in Ahlberg Hall, Room 220. The 鈥淲ar of Thrones鈥� LARP will take place at noon Saturday, April 26, at Fairmount Park. Registration for LARP teams is already closed, but everyone in the 麻豆传媒 and Wichita community is invited to show up and watch the fun.