Volume 125 Issue 2
kansan.com
Monday, August 20, 2012
OLYMPIC DREAMS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012
PAGE 43
JESSICA TIERNEY
editor@kansan.com
You're enjoying an evening hike in the woods. The sun is setting and the air is cool. You hear a soft rumble. You stop for a second, trying to remember tonight's weather forecast. You shrug it off as thunder, a distant storm. Hiking further, the rumble becomes louder, like it's headed directly towards you. Then the rumble becomes more like a roar. You hear voices. There is shouting, even snarling. Then, a group of nine or 10 people emerges, running and shouting. You duck behind a nearby tree. The light is low, but you can see capes, shields, and swords.
Yes, swords.
No. this isn't a hallucination.
You've just witnessed a LARP gathering and the running, shouting, shields and swords are all part of this intricate game that takes imagination to a whole new level.
"I like to describe it as King Arthur in the woods with a plastic sword," said Joe Bearden, KU alum and chapter director of Heroic Central, a LARP organization located in the Kansas City and Lawrence areas.
LARP is an acronym for "Live Action Role Play." It's a style of interactive gaming that can trace its origins to the late 1970s. Fans of tabletop role-playing games and fantasy films such as "Logan's Run" desired to take their appreciation of those imaginary worlds and recreate them in real life.
Its popularity has grown ever since, especially within the last decade and the release of "The Lord of the Rings" film trilogy.
The oldest recorded LARP group is the United States-based organization, Dagorhir, founded in 1977. Its name originates from J.R.R Tolkien's Sindarin Elven language and translates as "Battle Lords." According to its official website, "To experience Dagorhir is to grasp at the unobtainable."
Some LARPs are historical, some are fantastical, and some are set in dystopian worlds of the future controlled by androids. There is clearly an appeal to every nook and cranny of the human imagination.
For Bearden, it's become a full-time job and passion. He began LARPing in 1992 and is currently
"For some people, it's just as simple as liking to fight. For other people, it's creating the character and seeing their character develop over time."
Bearden says participants are mostly college age, but can range anywhere from as young as 4 to working adults. He says its appeal can be different for everyone.
working on developing a LARP camp at a site near LaCygne, Kansas. He founded a local chapter of Heroic, a national LARP organization, in 2009.
Hines has been in involved with local LARP organizations for eight years. She maintains two full-time jobs that can sometimes conflict with weekend-long LARP events.
"LARPing is like my little Las Vegas. What happens in game, stays in game," said Hines.
For participants like Larisa Hines, LARP is a creative outlet and temporary escape from reality.
"I just tell people that I'm going camping with some friends if I don't think they'd understand it," Hines said.
Both Bearden and Hines are passionate about their characters, the land they inhabit, and the game. To those who don't know about it, LARP may sound strange. For them, however, it adds excitement and imagination when real life sometimes lacks.
"It's not something I'm afraid to tell people about," said Bearden.
For students who would like to experience LARPing firsthand, there are plenty of events in the upcoming months for them to attend.
"I'm a LARPer for life."
The swords, by the way, were made of foam.
A group from Shawnee known as the Kansas City Sword Fighting LARP has weekly meet-ups every Saturday at Antioch Park, 6501 Antioch Rd., Merriam, Kan. They encourage anyone interested to attend and gear is provided.
The next meet-up will be Saturday, August 18 at 1 p.m. A full schedule can be found online at: http://www.meetup.com/KC-Sword-Fighting-LARP-Amtgard/
For students who would like to experience LARPing firsthand, there are plenty of events in the upcoming months for them to attend.
A group from Shawne known as the Kansas City Sword Fighting LARP has weekly meet-ups every Saturday at Antioch Park, 6501 Antioch Rd., Merriam, Kan.
How to get Involved
They encourage anyone interested to attend and gear is provided.
The next meet-up will be Saturday, August 18 at 1p.m. A full schedule can be found online: http://
m.meetup.com/KC-Sword-Fighting-LARP-Amtgard/
—Edited by Megan Hinman
BRYANT/KANSAN
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24
Trivia
tence with neighbors can be a challenge, especially between University of Kansas students and permanent Lawrence residents.
The Good Neighbor program, created in unison by the University and the city, aims to strengthen relations between students and residents by providing students with information about good citizenship.
The initiative kicked off Thursday with about a hundred volunteers from six fraternities canvassing the Oread neighborhood with welcome bags. Volunteers, paired with city representatives, placed 2,000 bags on doorsteps with city ordinance information ranging from bike parking and house party protocol.
"A big part of going to school is learning how to live on your own," said Joe Monaco, a spokesperson for the event. "We are providing just some basic information about how
"This is the first in a set of many steps," said Tim Caboni, vice chancellor for public affairs at the University and a Good Neighbor co-creator. "We are extending an olive branch today, but it does not end here."
policies as their hometowns, Monaco said.
Brad Hess, a freshman from Wichita and Delta Upsilon Fraternity program volunteer, said he was impressed by the University's initiative.
While no immediate events are planned for the future, Monaco said the University will continue the initiative throughout the year
"People really care more here," Hess said. "It makes me feel good. It just makes me feel safer and it feels nice to be joining that community."
The Good Neighbor program is the first to fortify the University's connection with the city.
CLASSIFIEDS 10
CROSSWORD 5
ku.edu/gooodneighbor
- Edited by Joanna Hlavacek
Trying to be more neighborly? Follow the advice of the Good Neighbor program.
-Parties: Notify neighbors before throwing a party. They'll appreciate you cluing them in.
-Parking: Do not park in the yard or in front of fire hydrants or driveways. Doing so can result in a fine.
-Pets: Animals need to be kept on a leash within the city.
-Sidewalks: Sidewalks must be clear of ice or snow within 24 hours.
-Bicycles: Bikes cannot be locked to trees or other non-designated structures.
-Safety: Lock all windows and doors, including your car, and keep electronics and valuables out of view. Call Lawrence police if you see something suspicious.
CRYPTOQUIPS 5
OPINION 6
Sarah Glass, a KU journalism school graduate, performs under the name Miss Conception on Friday night for students at the Hawk week Block Party. Miss Conception is the leader of Vibe Tribe KC, a performance company from Kansas City
TARA BRYANT/KANSAN
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 5
Source: Good Neighbor program
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
If you are looking for some extra cash this semester, attend the Part-Time Job Fair, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Kansas Union.
Today's Weather
Sunny skys with west northwest winds
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Welcome back to campus
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