Assassin Calls Truce After Colorado Deaths

In the wake of the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, the Quincy House Assassin Committee announced a 19-hour truce yesterday out of respect for the 15 people killed in Tuesday's Littleton, Colo. rampage.

"We declared the moratorium because it seemed wrong to be running around with guns the day after the school shooting," said committee member Stephen P. Huff '99.

The truce, effective from 5 a.m. until midnight, was met with approval from many students and administrators.

Quincy House Master Michael Shinagel praised the truce as "a very appropriate move," adding that the measure was taken without any pressure from the administration.

However, some students had reservations about the decision and complained that it didn't go far enough.

James M Chakan '99 said he had considered abandoning the game altogether because he thought it wasn't appropriate after the massacre in Colorado.

"I see [one day of truce] as kind of a token gesture saying we're aware of things, but I'm not sure that that's enough," Chakan said.

The game of Assassin, in which 70-odd Quincy residents participate, involves groups of students who attempt to "kill" each other in extended mock battles with toy guns.

The game has drawn criticism recently, primarily from students and administrators who have said it fosters a spirit of violence and antagonism among House residents and inconveniences students who do not participate.

Lowell House Master Diana L. Eck, who forbids Lowell residents from playing Assassin, said in a March interview that the game "was not in keeping with the spirit of community life."

Quincy resident Bryan W. Leach '00 said he was concerned the game encouraged students to avoid Houses and House activities where they might be "killed."

"It's like a giant game of Mercy--how much are you willing to give up? The minute you draw the line, you lose," he said.

Despite his reservations about the game, Leach praised the Quincy Assassin Committee's sensitivity in declaring a truce.

"They got a lot of points for doing what theydid," he said.

Huff said the committee decided to declare thetruce because some of the players suggested it.

"It might seem disrespectful for a bunch ofupper-middle class kids to run around pretendingto shoot each other when there are people who livein daily fear that that they will be shot by realguns," Huff said. Otherwise, though, Huff saidAssassin was a perfectly acceptable diversion andshould not be banned permanently.

"It strikes me as unnecessarily condescendingto say that college students have to be told notto set a bad example for their peers," Huff said."We're considered responsible enough to pay taxes,serve in the military, drive a car and vote.

"They got a lot of points for doing what theydid," he said.

Huff said the committee decided to declare thetruce because some of the players suggested it.

"It might seem disrespectful for a bunch ofupper-middle class kids to run around pretendingto shoot each other when there are people who livein daily fear that that they will be shot by realguns," Huff said. Otherwise, though, Huff saidAssassin was a perfectly acceptable diversion andshould not be banned permanently.

"It strikes me as unnecessarily condescendingto say that college students have to be told notto set a bad example for their peers," Huff said."We're considered responsible enough to pay taxes,serve in the military, drive a car and vote.