Pokémon GO at DSU

Ever since it came out, the media has been filled with all things Pokémon GO; whether the news be about trespassing, falling off of cliffs, or getting hit by and or crashing cars. This is all media hype of course, and for the most part, Pokémon GO has been a very successful and positive achievement from Niantic. The impact of this app can be seen here on the campus of DSU.

This being my third year here at DSU, I think it’s safe to say that I have never seen so many people outside on campus. No, it’s not just because the weather is nice, and no I’m not just talking about the heavy traffic in between classes, I’m talking about everyone out to catch some Pokémons. With a heavy concentration of “PokéStops” and even two Gyms within into our little campus, it’s a pretty great spot to do some catching. This app isn’t just getting our largely indoor-oriented student body outside. It’s also helping us socialize. Whether it be telling someone about a rare Pokémon nearby, bragging about the cool ones you already have, or having a debate about which team is the best (Instinct because underdogs are always the greatest, and we all know Spark is a pretty cool dude), there’s plenty to chat about. Believe or not, Pokémon GO’s influence runs even deeper than that on our campus. It has made its way into several classes as well.

During the first session of my Digital Collections and Curations class, Professor Berry mentioned the app, and the class began not only discussing it, but also how the game itself is about creating a digital collection. My point is that Pokémon GO has become so prevalent here on campus that it’s already a great way for students and professors to connect and has even become a way to make in-class discussions more relatable.

Giving students a reason to go outside more, the opportunity to socialize, and even working its way into the classroom, it seems as though, just as with the rest of the world, Pokémon GO has had a positive impact on our campus. There aren’t many negatives at all, besides it becoming a distraction in class (which it’s really obvious to see when someone’s playing) and of course, the possibility of injury or death because that definitely happens so frequently.