Ahoy, maties! The Pirate Club at Binghamton University was formed last year by a few swashbuckling friends, and has just started to get up and running this semester.
“[The club was formed to] be all about bringing people who love pirates together,” said James Murk, president and founder of the Pirate Club.
Murk was inspired to start the club after a Pirates vs. Ninjas Capture the Flag event last year, according to the club’s vice president Chris Gaugler.
Gaugler captured the spirit of the club with his description of their goals.
“First: to educate the masses about pirate culture and pirate living, and second: to bring the idea of pirates more to a public mind and try to represent them in a positive image,” he said.
The club is now chartered and funded by the Student Association, and is also considered a cultural group. During club meetings, members discuss group news, share pirate stories, watch pirate movies and brainstorm fundraising and new activities.
Although it is a small club right now, with only about seven regular members, they have big plans.
The group is in the midst of organizing its first big event, the Pirate Club Boat Race.
The race will take place on Nov. 3, at 9 p.m. in the East Gym pool. To participate entrants must create a one-person boat out of only tape and cardboard. All students are welcome to participate.
The Pirate Club is also making its presence known on campus through Late Nite programming. They hosted a pirate trivia contest last week, and hope to have a Liar’s Dice tournament soon.
Liar’s Dice is a strategy game featured in the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.”
The club is always open to suggestions for pirate-themed events as well and meets Mondays at 8 p.m. in the New University Union, Room W08.
Current members hope to get more participants who appreciate the pirate spirit.
“Take what you can. Give nothing back,” Guagler said.
Interested students can check out the PAWS Web site, paws.binghamton.edu, or the Binghamton University Pirate Club Facebook group for more information, as well as any e-mail the group at pirate@sa.binghamton.edu.