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There is something alluring about a chess set, much like the sound of cards being shuffled, that draws strangers to hurl wits and skill against another player. Chess is a game that has existed for longer than history can remember, yet no one knows exactly where it started. With simple rules that are easy to learn and the most rudimentary of pieces, an entire world of expression and competition is unlocked and a culture is created. The culture of chess, and that of the Chess Club at the University of Central Florida, is worthy to be studied because as eternal as this game seems it is at the same time ephemeral in formal existence. Within the time span of this in depth study, the changes this specific group has undergone and the reactions of the individuals to their fleeting environment and to other members of the culture and those outside the culture have displayed a cultural matrix that is both complex as well as adaptive.
In the beginning, there was a loose federation of chess players who formed the original chess club. There were the traditional club positions as required by the university, but the titles were powerless and mostly forgotten. The original members lost interest and drifted away. Over the 2005 summer break, Colin convinced the president to surrender his powers and control of the club to him. As the new president, Colin brought Bowman, his best friend and chess enthusiast, in as vice-president. The two worked and campaigned furiously to unearth enthusiasm in the student population and bring in new faces to replace the dwindling population. Though Colin has set the example of one year of presidency per person, he continues to influence the club and holds a great amount of respect from everyone involved. He and Bowman, who is now president, are organizing the club to run without them and are encouraging as many people as possible to become involved with the inner-workings of club structure. Now the registry for the club soars over seventy members many of whom are actively participating. Forward looking and afraid of slipping backwards, Colin and Bowman have been searching for the next leaders of the club. The decision came down to the choice between youth’s ability to remain in office longer before graduation, and dedication to the club. In the end, dedication has proved to be the driving force of the club and the only girl stands to continue the forward motion of the club.
My induction to the chess club was a quiet occasion but is still randomly celebrated among the masses. Shy as they come, I was eager to carve a social life and break my fear of new things. I stumbled on a flyer in one of the parking garages as a bright-eyed freshman and it took me two weeks to pluck up the courage to approach the group. I was thanked heartily and repeatedly for eliminating the all male aspect of the party. Colin, rated at 1650, was my first match up and he gave me a trouncing I remember to this day. He was also kind enough to take me aside and begin teaching me how to play chess properly. Like many people, I learned to play chess at a young age. At a recent tournament the youngest, and as I was told arguably the best, player there was an eleven year old child ranked at seventeen hundred, a respectable rating in any circle, who boasted invitations to international youth tournaments. Bowman noted my progress in skill and invited me to try out for the club’s team he was forming to send to other universities and tournaments around the country. I succeeded in gaining status to enter Nationals this year, which means the hard work has just begun.
Though there are more than seventy names registered with the club and many who participate in the regular bi-weekly meetings in the bookstore café, there are maybe fifteen people who are genuinely devoted to the club and the game. School beckons constantly and we submit to the daily grind of higher education. Members flit in and out of our meetings as schedules allow and games are decided on how much time people have between classes. It is very much like an auction house when someone has to leave for class. Bids of shorter and shorter game times are used to entice just one more game before class. Some of us have given up saying no and just changed our schedules so that we don’t have classes around meetings. Other regular meetings are officer meetings, which happen once a month usually a week or two before an in-house tournament. The first meeting of the year is an open house for anyone interested in being more involved with the club. The president presides and anyone with clear handwriting pretends to take the meetings. First call of business is typically arranging publicity for the upcoming in-house tournament, which is held on a monthly basis, followed by setting a date for the next tournament.
In addition to the four required officer positions required by the Student Government Association, the club has added a new position to the officer staff this year; the Intercollegiate Liaison’s sole responsibility is to contact local universities and arrange tournaments between the clubs as an outreach program. Within the last few months there has been a series of events that have cast shadows over the club’s progressive movement. A member went back on his word and embarrassed the club on our first intercollegiate tournament, and there has been a fiasco with the position of treasurer to the club. With the disappearance of a promising newcomer, responsibilities of treasurer and secretary have been delegated to a single person; this has caused much confusion and a muddying of the internal structure.
There’s a written and a spoken language unique to chess players. The written form is used to record games for reference, either to instruct or to insult players at a later date. The verbal form is used to discuss sequences of moves or certain patterns typical on the board. There are also words to describe the people who are involved and the type of game that occurs. The creation of new theories is constant and the titles of some are intended to be absolutely ridiculous. One opening which was decidedly weak because of the slow development of the pieces was given the name Turtle. As the opening was easily overcome, more experienced players ‘ate a lot of turtle soup’ in their day.
After engaging a culture I have not only participated in but hold an active leadership position I have found that my respect for the people and the game that binds us together has deepened and matured significantly. The Chess Club has become my passion, yet this isn’t because I have any more talent than the next person, but because I have spent so much time picking it apart and putting it back together that is has become an indispensable part of my life. Though the formal aspect of the study has been completed I feel as though I have become the protector of this culture from being forgotten and swept under the carpet as just another club. I also feel that my connection will not be severed at any near point in the future willingly.
In the beginning, there was a loose federation of chess players who formed the original chess club. There were the traditional club positions as required by the university, but the titles were powerless and mostly forgotten. The original members lost interest and drifted away. Over the 2005 summer break, Colin convinced the president to surrender his powers and control of the club to him. As the new president, Colin brought Bowman, his best friend and chess enthusiast, in as vice-president. The two worked and campaigned furiously to unearth enthusiasm in the student population and bring in new faces to replace the dwindling population. Though Colin has set the example of one year of presidency per person, he continues to influence the club and holds a great amount of respect from everyone involved. He and Bowman, who is now president, are organizing the club to run without them and are encouraging as many people as possible to become involved with the inner-workings of club structure. Now the registry for the club soars over seventy members many of whom are actively participating. Forward looking and afraid of slipping backwards, Colin and Bowman have been searching for the next leaders of the club. The decision came down to the choice between youth’s ability to remain in office longer before graduation, and dedication to the club. In the end, dedication has proved to be the driving force of the club and the only girl stands to continue the forward motion of the club.
My induction to the chess club was a quiet occasion but is still randomly celebrated among the masses. Shy as they come, I was eager to carve a social life and break my fear of new things. I stumbled on a flyer in one of the parking garages as a bright-eyed freshman and it took me two weeks to pluck up the courage to approach the group. I was thanked heartily and repeatedly for eliminating the all male aspect of the party. Colin, rated at 1650, was my first match up and he gave me a trouncing I remember to this day. He was also kind enough to take me aside and begin teaching me how to play chess properly. Like many people, I learned to play chess at a young age. At a recent tournament the youngest, and as I was told arguably the best, player there was an eleven year old child ranked at seventeen hundred, a respectable rating in any circle, who boasted invitations to international youth tournaments. Bowman noted my progress in skill and invited me to try out for the club’s team he was forming to send to other universities and tournaments around the country. I succeeded in gaining status to enter Nationals this year, which means the hard work has just begun.
Though there are more than seventy names registered with the club and many who participate in the regular bi-weekly meetings in the bookstore café, there are maybe fifteen people who are genuinely devoted to the club and the game. School beckons constantly and we submit to the daily grind of higher education. Members flit in and out of our meetings as schedules allow and games are decided on how much time people have between classes. It is very much like an auction house when someone has to leave for class. Bids of shorter and shorter game times are used to entice just one more game before class. Some of us have given up saying no and just changed our schedules so that we don’t have classes around meetings. Other regular meetings are officer meetings, which happen once a month usually a week or two before an in-house tournament. The first meeting of the year is an open house for anyone interested in being more involved with the club. The president presides and anyone with clear handwriting pretends to take the meetings. First call of business is typically arranging publicity for the upcoming in-house tournament, which is held on a monthly basis, followed by setting a date for the next tournament.
In addition to the four required officer positions required by the Student Government Association, the club has added a new position to the officer staff this year; the Intercollegiate Liaison’s sole responsibility is to contact local universities and arrange tournaments between the clubs as an outreach program. Within the last few months there has been a series of events that have cast shadows over the club’s progressive movement. A member went back on his word and embarrassed the club on our first intercollegiate tournament, and there has been a fiasco with the position of treasurer to the club. With the disappearance of a promising newcomer, responsibilities of treasurer and secretary have been delegated to a single person; this has caused much confusion and a muddying of the internal structure.
There’s a written and a spoken language unique to chess players. The written form is used to record games for reference, either to instruct or to insult players at a later date. The verbal form is used to discuss sequences of moves or certain patterns typical on the board. There are also words to describe the people who are involved and the type of game that occurs. The creation of new theories is constant and the titles of some are intended to be absolutely ridiculous. One opening which was decidedly weak because of the slow development of the pieces was given the name Turtle. As the opening was easily overcome, more experienced players ‘ate a lot of turtle soup’ in their day.
After engaging a culture I have not only participated in but hold an active leadership position I have found that my respect for the people and the game that binds us together has deepened and matured significantly. The Chess Club has become my passion, yet this isn’t because I have any more talent than the next person, but because I have spent so much time picking it apart and putting it back together that is has become an indispensable part of my life. Though the formal aspect of the study has been completed I feel as though I have become the protector of this culture from being forgotten and swept under the carpet as just another club. I also feel that my connection will not be severed at any near point in the future willingly.