The Tufts Autism Speaks Group began its first charity game of Spoon Assassins last Friday at midnight.
According to Tufts Autism Speaks Group President Shannon McHenry, who organized the fundraiser, the club plans to donate all proceeds to Autism Speaks, an organization that sponsors autism research, awareness and outreach initiatives among families, government officials and private sector entities.
According to Spoon Assassins game master Kristofer Siy, each participant was given a target who that person must eliminate from the game by tapping him or her with an official game spoon. Except during designed assassination hours, targets are safe as long as they are holding their spoon so that it is at least 50 percent visible.
The game began with 107 participants, Siy, a freshman, said, and will hopefully finish just before Thanksgiving break. The winner of the game will receive a $25 gift card to iYO Cafe in Davis Square and the two runner-ups will be awarded $10 gift certificates to the Tufts University Bookstore.
McHenry expects that the game will generate between $500 to $550 when all fees and donations have been collected. Each participant paid $5 to receive his or her spoon, and a few people also offered donations to support Autism Speaks.
Larry Evans, who is participating in Spoon Assassins, said he initially joined just because the game seemed fun. He is glad, however, that the game serves a good cause.
I think [the charity aspect] only strengthened my feelings about being a part of the game, Evans, a freshman, said. It started out for fun but that added a new part to it.
While Evans is happy to see that the event is raising money, he worried that people may not appreciate the importance of the games purpose.
The game is kind of separate, he said. Its fun on its own, but people dont necessarily do it for the cause.
This game marks the first campus-wide event hosted by the Tufts Autism Speaks Group, which McHenry founded last spring. Though the group has not yet gained recognition through Tufts Community Union Senate and has held only one meeting, McHenry has high expectations.
There are 60 people on our e-list, 20 people who attended the first meeting, and 30 who attended the [general interest meeting], McHenry, a sophomore, said. Were amidst scheduling a meeting with the Senate right now.
Both McHenry and Siy hope the events proceeds will make a difference in the autism community and help publicize their club on campus, so they can host larger fundraisers in the future.
