Thrilling experiences such as riding a roller coaster, going through haunted houses, and even playing video games can deliver an adrenaline rush that keeps us coming back for more, especially when shared with friends.
The district recognizes this thrill and uses it as a team bonding experience for sixth-graders at Outdoor Education, where students go through a ropes course, trust falls, and ziplines with their peers.
As high schoolers, we begin to mature from childhood adventures but still find ways to experience a similar thrill.
“Senior Assassin” combines both high stakes and aspects of childhood fun.The game acts as an unsanctioned upperclassmen expression of the same desire to live on the edge.
This game is open to all seniors with a typical entry fee of $5. Then “targets” are randomly assigned to each player. In order to “assassinate” a target, players must spray them with a water gun. The game includes safe zones such as the school campus, the target’s workplace, places of worship, and inside the target’s house (unless parent permission is granted).
The last surviving target wins the total money pooled together, so with such high stakes, it’s natural that a target’s first instinct would be to run when confronted by someone holding a water gun. But what happens if the target runs out into a road filled with traffic? Or a bystander misinterprets the game as a real threat? What happens when someone gets seriously injured?
On Feb 12., these concerns played out in real life. In Jacksonville, Florida, three Bishop Kenny High School students waited in the dark morning to “assassinate” their assigned target. Believing their water gun was real, an off-duty officer shot one of the boys in the arm.
This incident was referenced in a press release distributed by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on March 11 with the intent to ensure Omaha-area seniors make safe choices.
“Kids need to be able to get outdoors and have fun,” Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson was quoted as saying in the press release. “But they also need to be safe and understand the risks associated with this game.”
It’s scary to think that, if just a few inches higher, the Florida boy’s injury could’ve proved fatal. That’s why it’s important for all Senior Assassin participants to take into account how their actions could be perceived, since some bystanders might not be aware of the game’s nature. Even brightly colored water guns could be misinterpreted and cause panic, so it’s important not to act like it’s a real weapon.
Participants must also take into account their target’s surroundings and consider, if they run, that they are not put into any real danger.
All things considered, Titan Legacy staff encourages seniors to go ahead and have some sneaky fun – but err on the side of caution.
With a good sense of self- and social-awareness, the game can continue to provide that entertaining and adrenaline rush of a relatively harmless sense of “danger.”
