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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 29, No. 8. 1966.

I am going to be killed!

I am going to be killed!

Warren Mayne Reports From Canterbury

Sometime, somewhere, somehow next week I am going to be killed. How it will be done I do not know. And my sole consolation is the knowledge that the Canterbury students' association and the police for sure do not really approve.

For after a talk with the organiser of the latest "student game," "Carnage"—a sophisticated name for the latest American college craze, "The Hunt," I was enrolled as a victim.

Somewhere a hunter is waiting for me. He doesn't know who I am, and I have! naturally less idea of his identity.

The game, which runs in weekly rounds (a macabre term, that) from midnight Monday to 5pm Thursday, was advertised in Kobald, a student news weekly. A telephone number was supplied for participants. The organiser, "Lane." has offered to supply instructions for killers and victims each Monday in the Students' Union Building.

The Killer

And so to the game, designed to cater for the killer instinct in all of us (except me. because I'm a victim).

Everyone entering the game is either a hunter or victim. Each killer will receive a letter saying he or she has been chosen for this role and naming the victim without any other clue on who he or she is or may be found.

Each victim will simply be told he is a victim without any clue on who is hunting.

Four days will be allowed to devise and execute "a technically-feasible kill.'' Success will win one point. "A technically-brilliant kill" will earn ten points.

If the victim is able to first kill the hunter, the hunter loses one point and the victim wins one. If any "innocent bystander" is killed by the method chosen the hunter loses two points.

Judges

All contestants must report to the panel of judges, hunters and victims preferably having agreed on the merits of the kill, Lane told me.

"Technically brilliant kills?" For example:

• Victim hit by pillow labelled "20001b safe."

• Victim reads long dull letter from Senate, Ps added "This paper was impregnated with contact poison. You are groaning on the carpet, dead."

• Victim answers phone, hears note A on tuning fork, notices, headless, gun in earpiece representing A-sensitive explosive.

All dead simple.

After each round killers and victims will exchange roles and start again.

The first to accumulate 10points has a party thrown in his honour.

Within the four days allowed a kill may be made in any way, time, or place which is technically feasible and does not cause offence.

No Offence?

No offence? Canterbury executive member Andy Dennis wasn't so sure. Noting publicity given the "Carnage" game in Christchurch Press newspaper, he observed that this wasn't a good way to improve public relations in the city, comparing its probable effect with the "drinking the pub dry" incident last year.

Other executive members were also dubious, although the meeting took no action.

Commenting on this, Lane said he and the other dozen organisers saw nothing wrong with the practice. However, he emphasises he was urging non-violence to all competitors.

"We will award points on ingenuity only."

Lane had his answer ready:

"It is not expected that victims will be attacked in bed. It is not expected that they will be stabbed in a crowded street. But a tie may be slipped round a throat (but not pulled tight) in some alley; food may be poisoned if there is opportunity to do it without detection; and assault may occur in the course of the daily routine although more subtle methods are preferred." said Lane.

But the police countered with the cry "sick." What with the recently-turned-murderous population, the police have enough on their hands, a spokesman said.

"Surely the students are old enough to recognise the dangers of such pastimes as 'Carnage' — dangers possibly not so much to themselves as to others, especially those of similar intellect likely to emulate their poor example." the officer said.

"Instances are known of similar activities having resuits far removed from those the perpetrators intended, but for which they could not ignore responsibility.

"Why endanger a university career, probably gained at the taxpayers' expense through a generous bursary, by risking involvement in criminal proceedings?" the officer said.

"It is a 'sick' game. We would expect something more healthy and constructive from university students, the same students who constantly seek finance from the public to better their place of learning, standards of teaching, and other things."

University of Canterbury officials had no comment to make.

There are at least 30 people entered this week, and more are expected before entries close, and for succeeding rounds. The game will continue until it dies.

Warning: This newspaper may be radioactive!