Welcome to Assassins' League.

The first rule of the Assassins' League is:

You know what, I don't have a punchy one-liner. But let me explain. Previously I've stated that I've adopted 'Be indispensable' as my personal motto. Well, this is part of the overall plan, but the story starts earlier than that.

I started studying psychology knowing I didn't like failure. As soon as I had a bit of knowledge under my, after my first semester (when I was technically a second-year), I began to network. I boot-strapped myself up by making sure I talked to all my lecturers and by getting to know other people who work hard. Fortuitously I met an acquaintance who was post-honours and working on campus who introduced me to a number of postgrads. I don't know how - but I managed to get to know and build rapport with them all (well, most) - after all, who am I? An undergrad with delusions of ambition?!*

With step 1 handled I moved on to step 2. I figured if I can make myself central to something, make myself indispensible to many people, to offer something that's hard to achieve alone, and make it easy for anyone to do the same as I did, I'd be in like Flynn. So I started the Assassins' League. The League does two things:

First, the Assasssins' League is a gaming community. As the moderator I organize the game. It involves taking everyone's name, assigning code-names and targets, and setting the rules [and networking]. The rules of the League can be found here. The basic idea is that all players anonymously stalk other players, shoot them with water pistols (without any witnesses), and working the way up the ladder. Last Man Standing wins. The prize? Fear and Honour. Fear. and Honour.

Second, the League is exclusive. I recruit intelligent, passionate, and engaged individuals. They're at both post-grad and undergrad levels. The idea is that undergrads are preferentially given RA work and references; and postgrads can find RA's (of high caliber) quickly and easily, as well as having a network of people ready and willing to be involved in their studies.

In the future, as members move around the country, graduating and finding jobs, the idea is the the League becomes a rallying point for resources. A recently moved member might contact their old League Chief asking for someone with experience in such-and-such, maybe for collaboration, maybe for data, maybe for a conference.

The game is great  [and by 'great' I mean full of anxiety]. It's actually quite shocking how on edge we players become during the two-week period of any given game. Sometimes it's a relief to be killed - just so you can get on with your work without distraction. But, all the same, it's always disappointing - you always secretly hope to sweep the field in a blaze of water-pistol glory. I've met some amazingly talented people through the League, and I've personally set up a bunch of people with RA's and research work - stuff most undergrad's haven't a clue how to achieve. I'm proud of that. It's hard work, but I see a big future, people within the faculty know that the Assassins' exist, but not much more. I like that too. I see a future with us as the Skull and Bones of Psychology, that kind of thing.  

Today marks the end of the last game of the first year of the League (to end 3pm Aus-EST). I post knowing (hoping?) that there has to be some psychology undergrads out there. If you're interested, talented, and ambitious I want to know you. I want to set up sister Leagues at other campuses. Contact me here at LabSpaces, or at psycasm (at) gmail (dot) com if you're interested. The process by which I want to set up official networks will be strict, and I'll want to get to know you fairly well (membership criteria for the League is found here, to give you an idea). But seriously, who doesn't want to help form a secret society of psychologists? If you're interested in starting your own club - but perhaps with a greater social bent and less of a tilt at world domination, I'm also happy to share my experiences for running a smooth Assasssins' Game.

Why am I doing this? Why do I want more people setting up official Sister Leagues? I want to give Psychology students the opportunity to network prior to honours, before their PhD's and Masters'; I want people knowing other people prior to conferences and travel; prior to jobs and applications. I want talented, hard-working folk linking up with other talented, hard-working folk.

In the mean-time I lament my early death this round. After having made a kill early on I spent the next day in the Library studying (with occasional break to stalk my target). Out of nowhere I'm tapped on the shoulder and shot in the ribcage, mercilessly. My assailent sits down and laughs at my expense. She had already made one successful kill and had an axe to grind from the last game. I'm watching the tables eagerly to see if she claims a few more today, before the 3pm cutoff. Just quietly, I suspect it's going to get a bit messy.

*Note: Australians hate tall poppies...