Few students remained “human” following the zombie attack on the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) on Friday, January 11, but all 60 event participants got a lesson in teamwork.

The idea for this team building and leadership program was launched during a brainstorming session last spring, when the zombie craze was at a peak. Organizers wanted to encourage more students to participate in the annual program, and saw this departure from more traditionally structured programs as a way to encourage student engagement. The idea was fostered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent disaster preparedness campaign that took on a zombie flair and the American Veterinary Medical Association’s article outlining the 5 reasons you want a veterinarian on your team in a zombie apocalypse.

“We started thinking what would be useful, meaningful, timely, and fun,” said Sarah Abood, DVM, PhD, assistant dean of student programs, and associate professor in the Small Animal Clinical Sciences Department. By the beginning of the fall 2012 semester, encouraged by enthusiasm from staff and faculty, the detailed planning began. Organizers considered whether the zombies would be allowed to run, if the humans would be allowed to use their cell phones, and even if the power would be out. “It was a long series of conversations,” Abood said.

After nailing down a basic template based on research of similar events, organizers enlisted input from faculty whose expert knowledge of radiography, neurology, and viral infections helped to flesh out the challenges.

By January 11, enough people signed up to make eight teams of 6 or 7 people and a team of zombies. “I was thrilled with the response,” said Chandra Grabill, PhD, licensed psychologist for the CVM Counseling and Wellness Services. Team assignment allowed for a range of experience within each group, placing first year students with upperclassmen.

The event launched with an introductory video featuring urgent appeals from Dean Christopher Brown, BVSc, PhD, DACVIM; Kristy Mietelka, DVM, Dipl. ACVP, academic specialist in the Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation Department; and Dalen Agnew DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVP, associate professor in the Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation Department. With zombies breaking through their doors, Brown, Mietelka, and Agnew warned of the critical nature of the zombie attack and implored participants to use their skills and knowledge in order to save the animals and themselves.

While the human participants watched the video, the zombie team was in another room preparing their walking dead look with face makeup. “Our instructions were to go forth and infect as many humans as we could,” said zombie participant Lindsay Miller ’15.

Four missions had the teams traveling all over the veterinary medical complex to solve clues and complete tasks, while attempting to ward off zombies by hitting them with small balls. “If they hit us we were stunned for five minutes,” said Miller. The veterinary medicine themed tasks included identifying the zombie species using radiographs, assembling a puzzle to reveal a formula, and solving a crossword.

It was about 40 minutes into the game that zombies became a majority, forcing the dwindling members of the human teams to rely heavily on each other. Navigating the veterinary medical complex was a significant challenge to newer students. “I probably know two times as much about the building as I did before,” said Eric Eyed ’16, crediting some of his team’s success to a fourth year student.

Although no team completed the game intact, a number of participants did finish the game as humans. “We heard really positive feedback from everyone who came,” Grabill said. “We plan on doing it again.”

The event was sponsored by the Dean’s Office and the College Feeding Program.

Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, a world-renowned institute of veterinary education, strives to develop a diverse academic community that fosters scholarly activity and encourages exemplary human qualities. The College imparts the art and science of veterinary medicine to its students, which is expanded by research, and extended to the public for the benefit of animal and human health. With more than 100 years of teaching excellence, CVM continues to prepare leaders, life-savers, and world changers to meet the challenges of Michigan, the nation, and the world.