By Lexi White
Features Editor
Friendly competition and good vibes filled the room as students raced for a Nintendo Switch.
The E-Sports Lounge in the Adanti Student Center and the Programs Council, ProCon, hosted a Mario Kart racing tournament for students; the first-place prize was their very own gaming console.
“We wanted to host this kind of event because it can bring out the inner child in people,” nursing major Saana Mohammed, a junior, said. “Students get to show what they’re passionate about through playing against their peers.”
Mohammed is a programmer for ProCon and said she played Mario Kart when she was younger. She said the competition was hosted on Feb. 27 to bring students closer together through a common hobby.
“Connecting people is important to us,” Mohammed said. “We wanted students to be able to unwind and relax after a long day of classes.”
Biology major Tatiana Shepard, a sophomore said she came to the event because she loves to play video games and Mario Kart is nostalgic for her.
“I wanted to see if I was still good at the game, but sadly that didn’t work out,” Shepard said. “This experience was about having fun and meeting new people.”
Shepard said she connected with other students while being at the tournament.
“The environment here is so special and I get to talk to people about Mario Kart and everything else,” Mohammed said. “I’m having a really good time.”
Mohammed said she needed to relax after working all day and this event helped her to do so.
“It is really nice to be around other students with the similar interest of gaming and I think that’s important to have here on campus,” Mohammed said.
Business major Oscar Magana, a junior, said he entered the competition at the last minute. He said he was playing his own game in the E-Sports lounge, heard ProCon members talking about the Mario Kart tournament and decided to give it a shot.
“I never played Mario Kart growing up, but that didn’t stop me from having fun and trying something new,” Magana said.
Magana said he had a few exams this week and playing video games helped him to relax after being stressed.
“It’s nice to have an escape from academic learning and have a fun moment to end the day,” Magana said.
Interdisciplinary studies major Lincoln Carroll, a senior, plays the game regularly and said he was excited to hear about the tournament.
“I’ve found that I’m pretty good at Mario Kart,” Carroll said. “I can play it without needing to think that much about it because I play it to relax after classes.”
15 students entered the tournament; every person played until there were three winners left. Those three students competed in the final round. Carroll won the whole competition and was awarded the Nintendo Switch console as the first-place prize.
“I wanted to win the tournament so I can give my friend the Nintendo Switch,” Carroll said. “He is one of my best friends and I hope is very happy when I give this to him.”
