Paintball comes to campus

Ocotober 01, 2008
Brittney Meyer
Staff Writer

The 2008-2009 school year is already full of big changes at UIS with a new dormitory, a new bookstore, and new double-pane windows being installed in Brookens Library. A highly anticipated new club adds to these changes. The Prairie Stars Paintball club, forming now, was created by Communication major, Kevin Quinn.

“Most people I’ve mentioned the club to is interested in playing,” Quinn said about the new club.

Paintball at UIS is positive for the campus and the student body, as it provides an alternative form of off campus entertainment and an on-campus sprit that promotes safety, teamwork, camaraderie and social interaction, according to Quinn.  The National Pro Paintball League plays in games such as capture the flag with roster sizes between three and seven players.

 “[Paintball] encourages diversity on the student body by bringing people together with an activity anyone can participate and enjoy,” Quinn said, "also, I would like to express my gratitude to Smart Parts, and the additional paintball industry leaders that will be supporting this extreme sports initiative.  With their help, we will be able to offer the school community the diversity enrichment that Student Life strives for through an activity everyone can enjoy."

Other Illinois universities such as Illinois State, Northern Illinois, and the two other schools in the U of I system all currently have a paintball club with many active members. Kevin hopes to get enough interested participants in order to play in big events, including D-Day, which is a weeklong event in Oklahoma that mirrors the actual invasion of Normandy, France, in 1944.

“It is highly advisable that you study the history of the actual invasion, including individual units and their battles, as it will give insight into the missions and objectives in Oklahoma D-Day,” the website for D-Day advises.

Quinn has been playing paintball for 11 years both recreationally and on organized teams, including Midwway Malycha and The Windy City Paintball Club, both based out of Chicago.  He has even trained squat teams and plays on a team with police and military personnel.

Anyone with further questions should contact Quinn at kquin3@uis.edu.