Jake DavisThe Ole Miss Phenomena will try to break a Guinness World Record Thursday night when they host what they hope will be the largest rock-paper-scissors tournament in world history. The $1 cost of participation collected from each player will benefit the William Magee Center for Wellness Education.
The event began as cooperative effort between the Interfraternity Council, the College Panhellenic Council and the National Panhellenic Council to bring together members of the Oxford-Lafayette community to support a good cause. In order to draw a wider audience from the community, the councils then partnered with the Associated Student Body and the Student Veterans Association.
“While trying to figure out what it could be, I made a joke about holding a rock-paper-scissors tournament. We looked up the record and saw that it was actually possible and realized the potential,” said Matthew Edwards, vice president of philanthropy for IFC. “A tournament of this size would not only bring the community together in a simple and fun way, but it would also bring a lot of attention to the cause we chose to support.”
The event will cost each participant $1, and entry fees and donations will go to the fund for the new William Magee Center for Wellness Education set to open in 2019. The center will aim to combat drug and alcohol misuse through educational and preventative measures and will be housed in the new South Campus Recreation Center.
“As members of the Ole Miss community, we recognized that alcohol and drug misuse is a serious concern on the college campus and we want our student body and community to know that Ole Miss wants to provide the help and support to those who need it,” said Edwards.
Ann Weston Sistrunk, president of CPH, said she wants the event “to continue to spread the word of how this Wellness Center will greatly impact students and the Ole Miss community, all while having fun, and hopefully breaking a World Record.”
The current world record for the largest rock-paper-scissors tournament is held by Oobma Inc., which set the record in Indianapolis in 2014 with 2,950 participants.
Randon Hill, president of NPHC, said Thursday’s competition is a unique way to include students of all backgrounds in contributing the the betterment of Oxford.
“I think the concept of the (Ole Miss) Phenomena is such an interesting way to raise money for such a great cause,” Hill said. “The idea allows everyone (who is) a part of the University of Mississippi to come together, contributing just their time and a dollar while having the opportunity to make such a great impact.”
The tournament will be held in the Grove at 4 p.m. on Thursday, and it will feature brackets of 40 participants playing head-to-head. The winner of each bracket will move on until only two remain to play in the finals. The final winner will receive a 2018-2019 Ole Miss Intramural Sports Championship t-shirt and a gift card to Domino’s.
Organizers are currently expecting 3000 participants, but they say that weather may affect these numbers. With a high chance of rain on Thursday, organizers are prepared to move the tournament into the Tad Smith Coliseum, should weather prevent it from being held outdoors.
