The Strategy Games Club scouts potential players at Block Party. Photo by Jonathan Wang.
SAMUEL DEMIS | STAFF REPORTER | sademis@butler.edu
Members of the Butler community are achieving extraordinary things, both on and off campus. From first-years to alumni to administrators and back, each Bulldog has a story to tell. Read on to discover the next of our Bulldogs of Butler through a Q&A style interview.
Elle Rotter, a junior journalism and strategic communication double major, is the president of Butler’s Strategy Games Club. She spoke with The Butler Collegian about a typical club meeting, how she stepped into this role and why being a member has helped her form long-lasting connections with fellow students.
THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN: How would you describe Strategy Games Club?
ELLE ROTTER: We try to advertise it as a giant game night. We have anywhere from four to seven different board games running at a time, and people can bring their own as well.
TBC: What does a typical club meeting look like?
ER: It can be whatever [members] want it to be. You can come for an hour or stay the whole night. You can come once a semester or every week. It is very low commitment. I estimate that [the club] has 200 games within our collection, between ones we own and ones at the library, as well as games that individual members bring in.
TBC: What are some of the games played during meetings?
ER: We play a game called Werewolf every week, but some of our most popular games include [Settlers of] Catan, Ticket to Ride, Betrayal at House on the Hill, Dominion, Fantasy Realms and Coup.
TBC: Why did you initially join this club?
ER: I grew up playing board games with my family after school, so when I ran into the club at Block Party, I joined right away. I went the first week and met my friend, and we have gone every week for the past three years.
TBC: What made you decide to take a leadership role?
ER: When they took applications for [executive] positions, I was willing to help out in any way, shape or form, so I applied for basically all the positions. I was elected vice president last year, and then our president stepped down to focus on student teaching and handed leadership to me. We have a wonderful team that includes our vice president, secretary, games delegate and treasurer.
TBC: What sort of events do you have planned for this year?
ER: We’re going to do a Clue night, [which will be] a murder mystery that we host in the library. We do not have a set date for it yet, but it will likely be around Oct. and Nov., so look forward to it.
TBC: Why would you encourage students to join this club?
ER: I would encourage joining if they enjoy board games, but [also] just to have fun with friends. I joined freshman year not knowing a single soul, and now I would consider a lot of the Strategy Games people to be some of my best friends. I have two roommates that I met through the club; we’re all very competitive and we like winning, but it is a very fun environment.