Megan Schultz, English junior, who answers mostly to Megz, said she is an amazingly busy individual.
She spends about 10 to 15 hours on homework per week, as well as being on campus nearly 30 hours per week.
However, Schultz still tries to find time for herself by participating in a particularly unique activity called LARP.
LARP, or live action role playing, is a gathering of people who get together and act out an almost medieval time set story.
Shultz explained there are roles in the game such as queens or kings, and each person who plays has a specific role.
Characters can level up through battles and as the story progresses.
“The battles are really fun and can be a great work out,” Schultz said.
The battles are harmless and no actual weapons are used.
The players use weapons they made from home — typically from foam, or other sorts of padded material.
Schultz also acts as a story teller for a table-top game called Exalted.
“Exalted is like Dungeons and Dragons meets Anime,” Schultz said. “As a story teller, I am responsible for the pace of the game.”
Schultz said that the activities she participates in really helps to give her the experience she needs for running the Gamers’ Society.
During her schooling, Schultz has been involved with numerous programs, however, she has stayed with the Gamers’ Society the longest, being involved since 2003.
In 2010, Shultz took over as president of the club. At that time, the Gamers’ Society was inactive, due to a lack of members. Schultz had a hand in helping get the program up and running again last year.
“I’ve seen the club grow from six members all the way to 30, in just this last year,” Schultz said.
Schultz has been an active member within the Gamers’ Society, holding the title of president for two years.
Preston Bodine, English senior and secretary of the Gamers’ Society, has been with the group for only one semester, but said with Schultz, he has already noticed a change.
“I do think that we wouldn’t have been nearly as effective this past year without Megz,” Bodine said. “As far I’ve seen, she has been the cornerstone for the Gamers’ Society’s success this past year.”
Schultz maintains the Facebook page for the Gamers’ Society and is trying to find new ways to advertise the group.
“I just couldn’t imagine the group being as awesome as it is for everyone without her sacrifices,” Bodine said. “My first semester was a nightmare trying to balance school work with my officer duties, but she always went that extra mile to get us more involved on campus.”
Schultz said her biggest struggle getting people to understand what the Gamers’ Society is all about.
“I want people to know that we don’t just play card games or video games. We play all the games — which is actually our motto for this year,” Schultz said.
Schultz said the Gamers’ Society is willing to play new games and teach anyone who wants to get involved.
“We will literally play any type of game, and I’m always willing, as well as any of the officers involved in the Gamers’ Society, to teach others how to play new games,” Schultz said.
Bodine said he always has fun when in the Gamers’ Society.
“It’s hard to isolate any one specific good time I’ve had [in] the Gamers’ Society,” Bodine said. “If we’re not making light during the game, we’re keeled over laughing between games. The thing that makes the group great is that it’s a place to be friends and gamer geeks.”
By GAIL FAUSTYN
Staff
gfaustyn@ius.edu
