There are many ways to battle hunger, but laser tag is not usually an ideal form of combat.
The "Zap Out Hunger" Laser Tag Tournament, which benefits the World Food Programme, will do just that Saturday in the Student Center ballroom.
"I ran for Miss Auburn last year, and this was the platform that I based my campaign on...I just wanted to carry it out and get people more excited about fighting for a good cause," said Alysha Kambeyanda, senior in industrial design and organizer of the tournament.
Kambeyanda said even though she didn't win, she still wanted to make the laser tag tournament happen. The reality of the tournament coming together started taking shape toward the end of fall semester.
"The Division of Student Affairs is allowing each candidate to carry out their platform ideas which is really great," Kambeyanda said.
She said that the Division of Student Affairs is sponsoring event, but the hope is that the event will raise enough money to offset the cost of hosting the tournament.
"There's an online donation that people can do, and that money goes to the World Food Programme USA, but the proceeds from the tournament and T-shirt sales will go to the World Food Programme--some of it is domestic and some of it is international," Kambeyanda said.
As of Sunday, Feb. 20, $2,500 had been raised.
Participants are able to sign up online and in the Student Center until 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25.
"We're trying to also get the community involved--you don't have to be a student at Auburn to play--so we'd love for high school students or kids to come out," said Rachel Coffey, senior in communication disorders. "We have a time from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for the kids to play."
As of Feb. 20, 55 teams were signed up to compete, but Kambeyanda said she hopes to have between 80 and 90 teams in the end.
According to Bailey Hayes, senior in communication disorders, there are approximately 30 student volunteers working to help organize the tournament.
"A lot of times when these things are put on it's because you're in the organization or you're in a sorority or a Greek affiliation and that is your support," Hayes said. "But it's just been neat to see Alysha's support, and it's friends and people from all over campus all from different backgrounds."
In preparation for the tournament, along with planning the actual event, organizers have been painting billboards to promote the tournament and asking for donations from local businesses, Hayes said.
"Our goal was to get 50 local business to give $50, either monetary donations or gift cards, to go to supporting the tournament," Hayes said.
Teams will include four people. Individuals are also encouraged to sign up and will be assigned a team, Hayes said.
The fee to enter is $15 per person, and that includes playing laser tag, a shirt, snacks and entertainment, including appearances by Aubie and AU Rhythm.
According to Coffey, people who pay $15 to register will receive 10 spirit points, or people can purchase the shirt for $10 and receive two spirit points.
The tournament will be organized in brackets with double elimination.
The prize for winning the tournament will be a tour of Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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