University Housing and University Dining hosted a world record-breaking Monopoly game Wednesday, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the game’s creation, at which students and staff members attempted to break the world record for the most people playing Monopoly in a single venue.
About 316 people were in attendance and playing the game, according to the event’s official clicker-counters. The current record is 277 people.
Before the world record can be officially confirmed, Guinness must analyze evidence of the event and officially confirm that the world record was successfully broken.
The game served as a kick-off for University Housing’s 2015-2016 Housing Selection, which runs through the month of February. It began on Feb. 4 and will run until Feb. 27.
“Housing is all about creating community and fun,” said Lynne Barbour, the assistant director for conference and guest services at University Housing. “This event is reminding people to sign up or renew their housing for next year.”
This year, Housing Selection’s official theme is “Roomopoly.”
“It’s catchy and works well with community interest on campus,” said Jennifer Kendall, the public communication specialist in marketing for University Housing. “Monopoly is an old-school game that’s making a comeback.”
Jem Williams, a sophomore studying criminology, said the game was a good way to get residents excited about staying on campus.
“I live on campus and I’m debating on renewing for next year, depending on my roommates,” said Darrius Anderson a junior studying art studies. “I’m expecting to break the record with the Wolfpack tonight!”
There are two ways to authenticate a world record: having an official Guinness representative present, which requires paying for their travel, or sending in evidence that the record was broken, Barbour said.
Because an official from Guinness did not attend the event, sufficient evidence must be submitted and approved by Guinness in order to break the record.
“We have multiple ways of tracking people, paperwork to fill out and cameras recording the entrances and exits,” Barbour said. “We’ll also take an aerial pick and have two official timekeepers, unaffiliated with the university, to keep track of time.”
The number of participants playing the game was counted in several different ways. A roster of those who pre-registered was available at check in, and students could initial next to their names on the sign-up sheets. Students were also told to swipe in with their ID cards which were then counted.
Two official counters used clickers to tally the amount of people there. Students who swiped in with their IDs were also given numbered wristbands to help keep track of how many people were there.
Stewards were assigned to different groups in the room to ensure participants were actually playing the game.
“I’m observing groups of players and disqualifying people who aren’t actually playing,” said Paul Mirek, one of the game’s stewards.
Official witnesses who were unaffiliated with NC State patrolled the room to make sure the record was actually being broken.
“I work for housing, but I’m playing tonight to support the Pack,” said Asia Serrano, junior studying technology, engineering and design education. “We’re gonna break this record, baby!”
Any students or staff members, whether or not they lived on campus, were able to participate in the game.
