The Greatest International Scavenger Hunt—or GISH—is a worldwide competition based on a variety of unique challenges. Several participants in Vermillion came together to let out one, loud, collective scream.
The event, called Vermillion Scream, took place on Friday where participants gathered in downtown Vermillion to, just scream for a few seconds.
Dr. Bridget Diamond-Welch is a professor of Criminology at USD who participated in the event. She says an event like this can help people deal with stress.
"Sometimes you just have to let out your frustration," says Diamond-Welch. "It’s good to give voice for that and to not keep it all inside. So, I think it gives you an excuse to do it in a way where you’re supported, cause there’s other people around also screaming.”
A group of people screaming at once is not an idea created by GISH. It’s actually a tradition in Uppsala, Sweden, where university students scream outside the windows of their dorms every night at ten.
GISH activities first came to Vermillion a couple years ago when USD English professor LisaAnn Robertson was asked to join a team by some friends in Canada.
"It’s affiliates with Misha Collins, who’s one of the Supernatural stars, and so it’s meant to promote people’s creativity, to build community, and just to have fun and be weird," says Robertson. "So, this one could be considered community building.”
Teams from GISH are made up of 15 people, usually from different countries, taksed with posting photos and videos of the specific challenges.
Teams pay $25 to sign up with the proceeds going to Random Acts. The nonprofit was created by actor Misha Collins to promote random acts of kindness.