A new program sponsored by the University of Idaho Women’s Center and organized through the LGBTQA office celebrates the nerd fandoms that have taken over popular culture in recent years.
Ashlee makes her move during a game of Harry Potter Clue at “Nerd Tuesday”. The University of Idaho’s Women’s Center offers this event every week for everyone.
Julia Keleher, LGBTQA office coordinator, said she came up with the idea for the program while watching “Dr. Who” and reading her Batman comic books.
“I also consider myself a nerd … so it’s kind of a way to have a good community and find people that are interested in the same things you are,” Keleher said.
She said the concept is to celebrate nerd culture and also take a few hours out of the week to relax and either do something fun or learn about a new nerdy fandom.
“It’s kind of a social group … in the last few years we’ve kind of been talking like it’s cool to be a nerd now,” Keleher said. “It’s kind of a way to get people together to enjoy more pop culture — maybe sci-fi, board games, comic books … ‘Dr. Who,’ ‘Buffy,’ ‘Firefly,’ things like that.”
Keleher said the first program was a success and she hopes even more people will begin showing up to the program. Nerd Tuesday takes place at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Women’s Center.
Keleher said she encourages students to bring something with them such as a board game or something to watch and share with fellow self-proclaimed nerds.
“We take advantage of things like Netflix but if people have things they want to share that’s great,” Keleher said. “We’ve had several threats of people bringing Cards Against Humanity and I kind of hope they do because I want to play that, but anything is welcome.”
Kaitlyn Krasselt can be reached at [email protected]