Marlon Pitter
Connector Editor

Imagine this: you have a 90-minute hour gap between classes on South Campus. Studying in the middle of day just doesn’t work for you, and neither does going back to your room to scroll down your endless news feed on Facebook or Twitter.

In fact, the only thing that will alleviate your boredom and need to kill time is a satisfying round of pool or dunking on your friend with Paul George and the Indiana Pacers in NBA 2K13. Thanks to the McGauvran SIC (Student Information Center) on the second floor or McGauvran Hall, which allows students to rent games with just their IDs, you can enjoy these entertaining luxuries.

Gaming in McGauvran, from playing pool to the latest version of “FIFA,” has been a great way for friends to hang out and to make brand new ones.

Chris Saia, whose favorite games to play at the student center are “NBA 2K13” and “FIFA” on Xbox 360, says he’ll play against anyone who shows up. His willingness to compete with strangers has created some of the friendships he enjoys now.

Junior Hilton also games socially by playing “NBA 2K13.” Playing in McGauvran is beneficial to Hilton because, as a commuter, he “doesn’t really know anyone” at this point in the semester. Therefore, the video game kiosks are an invaluable meeting ground for someone who goes home after that day’s classes are over.

Meanwhile, freshman Camille Cigaral regularly plays pool and “Super Mario Bros.” on Wii for fun with her friends. She said she plays there because the location is convenient and there are “lots of activities.”

Sophomore Alec Wholey is a commuter and a forensic chemistry major, a combination that does not draw him to South Campus very often, but he takes full advantage of what McGauvran has to offer. Wholey says he “appreciates not having to go home” to play a game of “FIFA” with his friends.

While many students enjoy lighthearted competition with their friends, others engage in more competitive battles with friends and strangers alike.

Tank Fofanah plays in McGauvran often because there is “more competition” there. He has noticed his competitiveness rise while playing in the public eye.

Fofanah believes non-gamers see him as someone who is “amped up, competitive and noisy.” Chris Gilles, a friend of Fofanah, claims that games are always “intense” with a lot of yelling and trash talking.

Due to the magnitude of contests he participates in, Saia is driven to win at all costs. He is much more determined to win when playing against a real person, as opposed to a computer.

“I can deal with losing to a computer, but a real person won’t shut up when they beat you,” Saia says.

At the same time, Fofanah expressed that his reputation is sometimes “on the line” based on whether he wins or loses.

Looking forward, gamers say they would like the student center to “keep up with the times” by adding the latest consoles to hit the market, the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Aside from that, game suggestions range from “NHL 14” to “Tekken X Street Fighter.”

Adding table tennis and foosball are two improvements Cigaral would like to see. “This place has endless possibilities,” said Cigaral.