Ready, set, splash! As the last two months of the school year approach, a long-time senior year tradition excites many: “Senior Assassin.” It is essentially a huge water gun fight and a long-lasting community-building game in which seniors compete for a prize pool of money. Armed with water guns, players are paired up and assigned targets to “assassinate,” or splash, with their water weaponry while school is not in session. In normal rounds, eliminations are not allowed at workplaces, on campus or at sports games and practices. Goggles and floaties provide immunity, however purge days leave everyone vulnerable, as no accessory provides protection and anyone can get “assassinated” by anyone. The game is facilitated by student admins on the app “Splashin” which is specifically designed for “Senior Assassin.” On the app, people can access their targets’ locations and view the required video proof of their peers’ eliminations.
The game has several appealing factors. First, the prize money. With a $5 required buy-in, the possibility of buy-backs, which are paying to get back in the game after getting eliminated, and over 150 participants, the current prize value at FHS is at least $750 for one lucky pair. Other than the money, some simply enjoy spending time with friends and carrying out high school traditions.
“It sounded like a fun idea because I’d been seeing it on social media and other schools doing it, and I heard about the seniors playing last year and it sounded fun,” FHS senior Ciarra O’Leary said. “It’s just one last thing that you get to do with the senior class before we graduate.”
Undoubtedly, the game offers a fun and playful setting to interact with classmates and presents an opportunity to strengthen bonds and make new friends. Unfortunately, with such a large number of participants, disagreements are bound to rise.
“There was one conflict about the admins potentially receiving a cut of the pot, which none of us knew about and came as a surprise which was generally not very well received by the people participating,” FHS senior Stefan Waiblinger said. “There was also the aspect of the admins initially being very slow and reluctant at answering questions and at times, becoming aggressive and personal towards participants.”
Fortunately, as the game progresses and the number of active participants becomes smaller, communication is easier and more efficient and participants seem more satisfied with the game. Students feel that revisiting the rules has made the game easier and more enjoyable.
“The admins have been more responsive and more involved in the game, and more willing to actually communicate and talk about various subjects,” Waiblinger said. “They’ve been also more open to criticism than they were before.”
Despite its challenges and controversies, “Senior Assassin” continues to be an integral part of senior culture at FHS.
