RULES

THE RULES 

•   Note: Rules are subject to change at any point. 

•   If there are any rule changes once the game has begun, the Spoons Commissioner will notify all participants via the blog (so check the blog often) http://spoons2014.blogspot.com/

 

ABSOLUTE POWER OF SPOONS COMMISSIONERS

•   The Spoons Commissioners have total discretion in settling disputes, changing or adding new rules, and administering the game in general.  

•   Rule changes will be posted on the blog promptly.  

•   There are no appeals from any of the decisions of the Spoons Commissioners so don’t even try.

•   Bring conflicts to the attention of the spoon commissioners via email: spoonscommisioners2014@gmail.com

 

HOW TO PLAY SPOONS: THE BASICS

•   THE GAME: The game has started!  Now that you have your target and the game has started, your job is to twofold: thwack your target while you are “in-bounds” and don’t get thwacked.

•   STAYING ALIVE:  Staying alive is easy – you just need to hold your spoon in your hand so that it is visible to other players. This is because if you conceal it in your hand and lure your attacker to thwack you, you will have found out their identity and that is a considerable advantage to you. Don’t do that. If your spoon isn’t visible, the thwack will count anyway.

•   THWACKING: Each spoon has one and only one name on it. A "thwack" is the physical touching of a spoon to the person whose name is on it. You must be holding the spoon in your hand when you thwack them. Projecting or extending the spoon in any way is INVALID. Thwacking your target may be more difficult. But in these early hours, many a player forgets their spoon at home, puts it down for a moment too long, or forgets to pick it up entirely. Seize these opportunities. Please review the “IN AND OUT OF BOUNDS” paragraph below so you understand where valid thwacks can occur.

•   REPORTING THWACKS. All thwackers must submit a Thwack Report within four hours of the thwack or it will be voided and you will have to thwack that person again. This is to keep the game moving and to keep the Spoons Commissioner informed of progress being made.

•   DISPUTED THWACKS.  If you were thwacked and you dispute the validity of your thwack, e-mail the Spoons Commissioner (spoonscommisioners2014@gmail.com) within 4 hours of the disputed thwack with all the details.

•   NO SUBSTITUTIONS, TRADING, or DE-SPOONING. No substituting players once the game has begun. Due to the structure of the game, trading spoons will screw everything up. You may not physically remove a spoon from someone's closed hand, either directly or indirectly, including by using an object or having another person to do so for you. If you violate this rule, you will be disqualified and publicly shamed via email. I encourage running and chasing, but I don't want to blur the line between thwacking and mugging.

•   LOST/BROKEN SPOONS. You cannot make your own spoon. If you lose your spoon, you must email the Spoons Commissioners to get a replacement at their convenience. You are a sitting duck until then. If you thwack someone who does not have his or her spoon, you must notify the spoons commissioners immediately but you may use your old spoon until they get you a replacement.

•   SAFETY. If you break or leave any physical mark or hurt anyone (including anyone not playing the game) while making a thwack, you are disqualified and we will shame you. If you are a thwackee and you hurt someone, the same applies.  You may not do anything illegal or in violation of school rules to thwack someone.

 

IN AND OUT OF BOUNDS:

•   IN BOUNDS: Spoons is played exclusively on the University of Michigan Law School campus or at Law School events (like bar nights).

•   All law school buildings (HH, SH, Library, Legal Research, Commons, etc.) are inbounds except The Lawyer’s Club bedrooms and hallways. Lounges are fair game always. The dining hall is out of bounds only during dinner. The entrance to the dining hall, however, is of course fair game.

•   And, like last year, Monroe Street between South Hall and Hutchins IS in bounds BUT, if anyone puts herself or anyone else in ANY danger, you will be ELIMINATED IMMEDIATELY and BANNED FROM PLAYING IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS IMPORTANT. Don’t chase people into the street, don’t hide in the street, and don’t get hit by a car.  

•   Just don’t fuck with this rule.

•   OUT OF BOUNDS: Once you leave campus, you are safe. This means that when you are home, or dining at your favorite restaurant or imbibing your favorite beverage at a local watering hole, you are safe. UNLESS you are at a school sponsored event or bar night, in which case GAME ON. 

 

THINK BEFORE YOU THWACK: 

•   While on campus, Spoons is played only when it does not disrupt classes, presentations, oral arguments, or other students and faculty. Have fun and be competitive, but PLEASE be respectful of the community we live in. 

•   You cannot thwack anyone while a class is going on (before and after the professor has started/ended is fine), while a lunch event is going on (again, before or after the event is cool, even in the same room as the event is being held), or when it would piss off other students, professors or faculty. 

•   Also, clinic duties WILL BE considered part of class activity - so if you have office hours or are with your client you are considered in class and cannot be thwacked. Please be respectful of others when they are clearly with a client. Finally, individuals on the clock for campus jobs cannot be validly thwacked.  

•   This includes Lexis, Westlaw, Kaplan, BarBri, or the reading room desks or library jobs.

 

SPECIAL EVENTS: 

•   Some special events are off limits (Blue Jeans lecture, Wine and Cheese)

•   NO ONE may be validly thwacked during the SFF auction from 6pm to midnight on March 20th (and this applies to any volunteers setting up for the auction before 6pm).

·   Preview weekend tour guides:  In the event that immunity suspension is in effect during a preview weekend, a tour guide-competitor may, while giving a tour, hold their spoon for protection, regardless of the time. Thus, they still have to hold their spoon, but the immunity suspension will not apply. This applies even if there is more than one tour guide.