Esports at Marymount: The New Frontier

By: Ava Gonzalez

Photos: Sam Churchill/ Flickr

“Upon its mention, many students are shocked to find that Marymount is home to it’s own Esports team, playing more than 5 different games and growing every year.”

Upon its mention, many students are shocked to find that Marymount is home to it’s own Esports team, playing more than 5 different games and growing every year. 

I spoke to Dr. Nathan Green, a professor in the IT department, who advises Esports at MU. Dr. Green has a background in computer science, and came to Marymount in 2016. Shortly after, he realized there was a community on campus and students had an interest in gaming. 

Unfortunately, this particular hobby has a history of bad press. Urban legend has traditionally linked video game violence to real life behaviors. Most recently, Former President Trump referenced video game violence in a meeting with company executives in 2018. He claimed that video games are connected to the “glorification of violence in our society”. 

The general consensus among the gaming community is that these fears are dated. A 2019 study from the journal Royal Society Open Science found that there was no evidence to support the claim that violent video game play is related to aggressive behavior. Many critics argue that people often scapegoat video games as a way to distract from other contributing factors to gun violence.

The creation of Marymount’s Esports team coincided with the launch of IT’s game design and development minor. After mentioning the idea to Dr. Becerra, Marymount Esports was born. 

Dr. Green noted that many prospective high school students actively search for gaming opportunities in college. Esports is a growing field and a high-revenue sport. Students seek jobs in its ecosystem: broadcasting, sports journalism, management, sales. It’s important for students and administration to take the field seriously. In 2018, more people tuned into the League of Legends World Championship Finals than to the Super Bowl. DC is home to it’s own Esports team: The Washington Justice, who play professionally in the Overwatch League

The Marymount Esports team is a recreational activity handled under the athletic department, like Cheer or Dance. “In my life, I never would have thought I’d be an athletics coach”, Dr. Green remarked.

Marymount Esports plays in several tournaments hosted by the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE). They also play under the Atlantic East conference, a traditional athletic conference that other sports at Marymount play in.

Dr. Green reflected on his experiences gaming in the 80’s. Then and now, people still consider video games to be harmful, despite its changing image. He advocated, however, that gaming isn’t a passive activity. “Whether or not there is a strict athletic conference that’ll play that game, I think there’s still a value to get out from behind your individual computers and play with other people that you know”, he noted, “There is a social aspect of gaming, and a teamwork aspect to it”. 

The Marymount Esports team is actively recruiting. Interested participants are invited to join the community, and the team is open to new members & game offerings. They currently offer Valorant, Rocket League, Overwatch, League of Legends, Hearthstone, and Fortnite. Contact Dr. Green at ngreen@marymount.edu for more information.