Students Plan ‘Carnage’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31080, 8 June 1966, Page 18

Students Plan ‘Carnage’

“Carnage” has been created by a group of students of the University of Canterbury because “the killer instinct is near the surface in all of us” and there is scope for “vivid homicidal imagination.”

“Carnage” is a game based on “The Hunt” which has recently become a craze in American universities. “We did not think The Hunt* was a very imaginative title,” said one of the Canterbury organisers. So under the more emotive name, competitors will go out next week bent on mayhem.

Those involved—“killers’ and “victims”—will all take part voluntarily and knowingly. There are strict rules to

prevent harm to any competitor, actual violence, upset of any innocent bystander, or offence to any person. Those entering the game will be divided into killers and victims. 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 two points. If the victim is able first to kill the hunter, the hunter loses one point and the victim wins one. If any “innocent bystander” is “killed” by the method chosen (say “poisoned” food) the hunter loses two points.

After the first round killers and victims will exchange roles and start again. The first to accumulate 10 points 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-

“It is not expected that victims wilt 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 round although more subtle methods are preferred. A number of studentshave already entered and more are expected by next Thursday. The game is expected to snowball in the next few weeks.