A projected 3,000 people Oct. 25 will be in the Grove as a number of student organizations at the University of Mississippi try to break the world record for the largest rock-paper-scissors tournament. Photo by Kevin Bain/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services
OXFORD, Miss. – “Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!” Those words will be uttered by a projected 3,000 people Oct. 25 in the Grove as a number of student organizations at the University of Mississippi try to break the world record for the largest rock-paper-scissors tournament.
The Guinness World Record is held by Oobma Inc., which hosted a 2,950-person tournament in 2014 in Indianapolis.
The Ole Miss Phenomena is hosting the 4 p.m. event to raise awareness of and benefit the William Magee Center for Wellness Education. The event is open to the Lafayette-Oxford-University community, with the $1 entry fee and any donations going to the Magee Center.
Matthew Edwards, vice president of philanthropy for the Interfraternity Council, worked with members of the College Panhellenic Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Associated Student Body, to organize the tournament as a lighthearted way to bring the community together to support a cause.
“Our goal for the community is to bring people together from all groups to support a cause that can affect anyone, from any walk of life,” Edwards said. “We want members of this entire campus to know that this university will have the resources to help those struggling with substance abuse, and to the members of the Oxford-Lafayette community – we want to impart that we care about those within our communities and are striving to improve our community as a whole.”
The tournament is set up in a bracket style. The first round will have groups of 40 people who pair up to play against one another. The winners in each group move on to the next round and continue this cycle until two individuals remain to play in the championship finals.
Organizers will record, document and send the results to Guinness World Records.
Annie Williams, ASB director of philanthropy, said she hopes the event will be a unifying and fun experience for the Ole Miss community.
“As this being our charter year for Ole Miss Phenomena, we are hoping to set a positive and interactive tone for students,” Williams said. “It’s something fun and lighthearted to look forward to, but that with a lot of participation, can make a substantial change in our community.”
The William Magee Center for Wellness Education will offer educational, preventive and supportive efforts to combat alcohol and drug misuse. The center, which will be housed in the new South Campus Recreation Center, was created in honor of Ole Miss alumnus William Magee, whose struggle with alcohol and drug use ultimately led to his death.
The event is sponsored by the Associated Student Body, Student Veterans Association, Interfraternity Council, College Panhellenic Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
For more information on the Ole Miss Phenomena, visit http://www.facebook.com/UofMphenomena/.