Mystery Science Theatre – A Night of Friends and Food

Kaden Carr

Members of the UWG Sci-fi Club gathered to meet with a gallery of English professors on Wednesday for an event they all dubbed the Mystery Science Theatre, a potluck that invited interested parties to share in good food and a delightfully awful film.

A screening of the 1957 B-movie classic Plan 9 From Outer Space took place as attendees rolled in. The event’s creation was part of the Sci-fi Club’s initiative to branch out into a wider array of activities and form new connections with other departments in the school.

Among this turnout was club founder Jay Fasone, as well as important figure heads in the English department, such as Professor Alison Umminger. 

“I think anything that gets students together to watch something as legendarily awful as Plan 9 from Outer Space and eat food is exactly what makes college fun. Count me in,” said Umminger. 

Being a fan of the sci-fi genre her whole life, she was more than happy to collaborate with Fasone’s developing club.  

Turnout was relatively small, due in part to its low key nature, but was very lively and close knit nonetheless. 

“I’m always of the opinion that it’s more about whether the people who attend enjoy the event as opposed to numbers,” said Umminger. “I thought it was lovely to see such a nice crowd last night.” 

The crowd’s kindness was a major breath of fresh air for all those involved, as they embraced both regular club members and strangers alike with an all encompassing openness and exuberance. Together, everyone laughed and commentated over the bad film, enjoying a wide selection of food ranging from taquitos, pizza and fried chicken.  

“Like most humans, I found this semester pretty stressful and at times disappointing, but all of us need to find the things that bring joy and keep doing those,” Umminger said about the event. 

During this late period in the semester, where cramming and tension have reached their apex, it’s little gatherings like these that give so many students and teachers a place to truly relax and unwind. Oftentimes the best cure for stress is simply the company of others, and in this case, a terrible sci-fi classic, too. 

“It doesn’t take much, and you can always find English faculty happy to sponsor events like these. But really it’s the students who decided to form this wonderful club,” said Umminger.

Even though the potluck flew under the general public’s radar, quaint meetings like this one serve as a testament to the sheer vastness of social opportunities that can be found on UWG’s campus, a true beacon of kindness and fun where many needed it most. Attendees of the event hope to make the Mystery Science Theatre a tradition, one that will continue to nurture their close knit and welcoming community for years to come.