For many University of Idaho students, the new Pop Culture Games class seemed like a great platform to meet new people and learn more about Moscow.
Freshman Asel Parish said he signed up for the class to get a feel for the university community. So far, he has not been disappointed.
“It’s really nice to get out and actually meet new people,” Parish said.
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Students attempt to take opposing Pokémon gyms on Tuesday along the arboretum trail. Pokémon gyms are areas where a player can station a digital creature of their own to control an area for their team.
The class is 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, which Parish said is ideal for him, as his classes are done at that time. He said since the start of the fall semester the class has visited the Arboretum, the Moscow Co-op and different areas on campus. The course gained attention when it was revealed that it would feature the new app, Pokemon Go.
“Basically we just walk around, have a good time, sit and talk to each other, playing Pokemon,” he said.
The first half of the course features Pokemon Go, while the second half will be taken up with the game Humans vs. Zombies. Parish said he has never played Humans vs. Zombies before, but he thinks it will be interesting.
Kris Packer said it is a great opportunity for students in the course to learn about the game. Packer was president of the UI Humans vs. Zombies club last year. He said the class won’t be entirely the same as the club.
“We (the club) have just one solid consistent game,” Packer said. “With the class, it’s going to reset consistently.”
He said the students in the course will plan the Humans vs. Zombies game for the club this year and see how it comes together behind the scenes.
Madeline Casanova, who hires and supervises PEB instructors, said she is excited that the course provides a different experience than other PEB courses.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for maybe people who aren’t as interested in the mainstream activities,” she said.
Steven Bird, course instructor, was passionate about teaching the course, she said. Casanova said he can make the course whatever the students want it to be.
She said so far, the course has had great attendance and appears successful. She said she thinks the Department of Movement Sciences has managed to cater to a wider variety of students with the course.
“They’re not the same kids that take all of our yoga classes and stuff,” she said.
Casanova said if there is enough interest, the course could be offered again in the future.
Bird said so far the students appear to be enjoying themselves and are socializing more than he was expecting them to.
“They’re making friends, they’re talking,” Bird said.
That was one of Bird’s main goals for the class, the other being to show the students more of the Moscow area. Bird said there are still many places he wants to take the students before the Pokemon Go section is over. He said many of the students are freshmen or transfers, and having heard about the class through social media, joined to learn more about the area and make friends.
“I’m hoping that some of the friendships last longer than just the class,” Bird said.
Nina Rydalch can be reached at