Campus Rec staff outside new location, The Compound

Students and staff will go head to head in athletic competitions hosted by Hillsdale College Campus Recreation at the first “Staff Student Faceoff” Thursday, March 22 at 8 p.m.

“There’s going to be a set of three challenges for each team,” said Meg Patrick, senior and Campus Rec creative team lead. “There is going to be a dodgeball tournament, a free throw competition, and a set of relay races. They’re going to be very unconventional relay races, so it should be fun to watch.”

A team of professors and staff will face a team of student “champions” according to Elizabeth Oxaal, senior and Campus Rec logistics team lead. The cumulative team total from all the competitions will determine the winner, she said.

According to Oxaal, the exact relay events will be a surprise but will be entertaining. 

“This is not the conventional relay race,” Oxaal said. “There’s a bunch of other stuff that we’re working on.”

Patrick came up with the idea based on a tradition from her high school, she said.

“Back in high school, at the end of the year, all of the seniors would play the teachers in a game,” Patrick said. “My year, we played a game of kickball and my team beat the teachers’ team. It broke the teachers’ four year streak. I’m pretty proud of that.”

Campus Rec invited members from each dorm and Greek house to participate, according to Oxaal. Some staff in the face-off include Associate Dean of Men Jeffery Rogers and Assistant Professor in Medieval History Charles C. Yost, Patrick said. 

“We found that students want to see professors be involved in campus organized events,” Kirsten Lopez, Campus Rec creative team co-leader, said. “We saw the faculty talent show and we thought it’d be a good idea to see students and professors get involved in an event that’s athletic related.”

Lopez said they hope the competition will bring campus together.

“It’ll be a great event to go to because you’ll be able to support the area of campus you’re on,” Lopez said. “It’s kind of like mock rock in a way where we want to have that atmosphere and culture where you’re supporting the group that you’re a part of. It’s just a nice way to have friendly competition and see your professors do something outside of teaching your classroom.”

The event will be held at the George C. Roache Sports Complex, according to Patrick.

“Spectators are heavily encouraged,” Patrick said. “There will be pizza.”

According to Oxaal, the winning prize is bragging rights.

“Fame, glory, honor, that’s the prize and that is all you need,” Oxaal said.