Boffing club finds new home

After several quarters of being shuffled around to different spots, the ever-visible boffers -- who simulate medieval combat using weapons made of PVC pipe and foam -- have found a new home between the By George cafeteria and the Henry Art Gallery.

Jonathan Sabo, club president and co-founder, said the new location isn't as good as the previous practice spot on the north HUB lawn, but is better than the archery field in north campus, where members practiced this summer.

The boffers were forced from the north lawn, where the club started, when UW facilities personnel expressed concerns that they were destroying the grass. The boffers ended up on the archery field, but that was too far away and didn't have enough visibility to recruit new members.

"Club membership took a dip when we moved up to the archery field," said Sabo.

Sabo contacted grounds-care personnel again about moving to a new area, and they suggested the current spot near By George.

"They said we could use this lawn because it's already torn up," he said. Sabo and club members like the area well enough, he said. "I intend for us to be here all year."

Sabo is trying to keep in touch with grounds-care personnel to make sure the club will have a spot to practice. He believes that the area it's currently in may be reseeded at some point.

In a worst-case scenario, he said, the club could buy a large pad or artificial grass and place it in Red Square or over the grass on the HUB lawn.

"It's annoying to have to deal with [all the location changes], but it's do-able," he said.

The club practices Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. between By George and the Henry Art Gallery. The club is open to everyone, but Sabo does require that prospective members officially sign up to be in the club. Dues, which pay for the foam weapons and shields, are $2 per quarter.

For more information, visit the UW Boffing Club Web site at students.washington.edu/boffing.