So I am a proud geek, nerd, dweeb, etc. and I have had the pleasure to partake in and help plan our annual Geek Week program here at Rutgers University – New Brunswick. It is a great initiative that helps create a unique community based around being proud of who you are and sharing your passions with others. We’re going into our third year of the program this upcoming spring semester and it is looking to be another great opportunity to reach out to students who may not be as apt to come out to your typical event.

Something unique about geeks is their obsessive and excited nature about the things they love. That could be Star Trek, Buffy, Marvel Comics, 3D Printing, Cosplay, Tabletop Gaming, you name it. They want to know everything about their interests and share them with other like-minded geeks. Typically though, they are introverted and may be a bit socially awkward, quirky, or eccentric (in a good way of course). What we do at Geek Week is aim programs directly at these students to help them build a community where they feel like they aren’t alone, can be themselves, and be proud of the cool things they’re into. On a practical side, this community we create helps retain students, alleviates mental health issues, and creates friends for life on-campus.

Being a geek is also inclusive of all sorts of people. I firmly believe that you can ‘geek out’ about anything, and I’ve blogged on it before. While there are some traditional ‘geeky’ things that I mentioned before, big sports fans are essentially just geeking out about sports, or someone who is into fashion is a nerd for that too. These things are just a little more ‘mainstream’ and I don’t think people would necessarily consider themselves ‘geeks’ per se but I think just framing it as being having a deep passion for something creates a common bond for us all. Also, it doesn’t matter where you come from, who you love, or what you look like, geeks typically see beyond that and accept you based on your nerd credentials. This sets a great groundwork for some critical discourses on issues of equality, access, and advocacy such as being a nerd girl or addressing social issues through comics.

So I highly encourage you to reach out to this passionate community of students who are sure to be on your campus. They are the people who buy up expensive collectibles, wait in lines for midnight launches, share immense amounts of knowledge, and make deep bonds over their particular geekdoms. Tap into this energy and serve your institution well in the process!