By Anna Catherman
Next Thursday, Nov. 17, students will have the opportunity to take a stab at solving a mystery – a rather large mystery.
The mafia-style event will ask students to solve the murder of a well-known Houghton University figure: Luckey the Lion.
Junior Eileen Goodge, one of the event’s organizers, explained that the event is designed to be a fun way to meet new people and work together. Players have to find out the who, where, and why of Luckey’s murder, just like the board game “Clue.” There will be several different mock rooms, according to Goodge, in which groups of 10 players will search for cards and clues.
Goodge explained that, though the event is themed after “Clue,” the gameplay resembles more of a murder mystery dinner party.
“Emily [Fausnaught] and I have both played a dinner mystery game,” Goodge noted, which inspired them to choose a similar concept for their event.
Fellow organizer junior Zachary Fahey noted that the event is designed to be “a thrilling experience for students while letting them just let loose while still using their minds to solve a murder.”
While there is no dinner at this event, participants will have an opportunity to enjoy cooperative teamwork and meet new people. The event is designed for large groups of 10 people each, maximizing the possibility that people will work with others they don’t know well and hopefully meet a new friend. Intergenerational gameplay is encouraged as well: students from the ENCORE program for adult learners have also been invited.
The event is one of several organized by students each semester in the Sports, Recreation and Wellness Department’s Program Planning and Evaluation class, in which. students learnt how to run events.
Goodge spoke highly of the class, explaining that “It covers a lot of stuff our business classes don’t.” That “stuff” includes marketing, liability, and collecting engagement data.
Every semester, many events are put on by students in the class. Students creatively brainstorm and put on some of the most unique events on campus. Last week’s Mobile Mafia night was put on by a different group of students from the Program Planning class. Another group of students is putting on “Luau at the Rock Wall” Saturday, Nov. 19. Other past events put on by the department have included a mac ‘n cheese cook-off, an escape room, a horseless horse show, and a movie night.
“Foul Play at Houghton” will take place in the Chamberlain center on Thursday, Nov. 17 from 8p.m.-10 p.m. Goodge expressed the hope that sports teams, and those in evening classes, will be able to participate after their events are over. Sign-ups will be available soon, with various time slots available within the event’s run time.★
