Bringing fictional stories to life through events and competition is not an uncommon trend on college campuses. The game of "Quidditch" from the Harry Potter series has been seen at schools across the country, "zombies" have been seen darting across Notre Dame's campus this past September and this month, 30 lucky Notre Dame "tributes" will bravely compete in their very own version of "The Hunger Games."
Residence halls will pin students against one another to showcase skill, bravery and survival on Sunday, Oct. 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. during the first annual competition.
As any "Hunger Games" fan knows, the ultimate goal of the tournament is to kill off opponents and to be the last one standing in the arena, a rather morbid concept.
Luckily for these tributes, event organizer and Howard Hall tribute Clare Robins has found a more humane way of determining the true victor.
"We certainly weren't going to replicate the games," Robins said. "So paintballing seemed the closest way to simulate them."
The arena, located in White Field, will be encased in netting and receive a new smattering of color, as tributes dodge paintballs and obstacles on their quest for victory.
During the competition, the games will play out as a series of tournaments. The first set of smaller tournaments will consist of six tributes representing three districts, where each district is a combination of a brother and sister residence hall. The victors from each round will then compete in the championship round, which involves not only tributes, but also any fellow Hunger Games fanatics who would like to participate.
Along with confidence, extra support from previous attendance at the Hunger Games events will pay off in sponsorship. Tributes may receive extra paintballs, or early entry in the arena, based on previous points scored.
As the games draw nearer, tributes have starte showing their excitement for the competition.
"I plan to dominate," Kevin Katalinic, a tribute from St. Edward's, said, when asked about the upcoming games.
Katalinic said he has no plans to strategize, but will go into the games riding on the confidence of his raw talent.
Carroll tribute, William Murra, said he was "Nervous" but "confident in [his] archery skills."
Rivalries have already worked their way into these games.
When asked if any tributes looked particularly threatening, Sorin tribute, Johnny Whichard said Walsh, Zahm and Fisher pose as threat, and will be the first ones to be "taken out."
However, not all tributes are as impressed by their competition
"I looked in a mirror and decided that the only competition was myself," tribute Paul Barron said.
