E-Sports is a form of competition that uses video games as a means of play. Like Football and Baseball, e-Sports athletes train for multiple hours a day, practicing for their next bout. Southern Arkansas University recently introduced the Mulerider e-Sports Lounge to bridge the gap between students and the world of competitive gaming.
The e-Sports lounge is located on the second floor of the Reynolds Rotunda. It’s divided into two areas; the lounge, and the Lab. The lounge hosts multiple televisions and comfortable seating to hook up and play games on. The Lab is a room to the side that can be accessed through the lounge full of powerful computer hardware to play on. 
SAU has multiple e-Sports teams, and each is dedicated to a particular game and their unique roster of E-Sports athletes. The e-Sports teams include Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Rainbow Six: Siege, and Rocket League. The e-Sports lounge is used by these teams to practice for competition against other schools that have e-Sports teams.
The best part, though? Anyone can use the e-Sports lounge and the e-Sports Lab! There will be a sign posted next to the door with a list of times for team practices. As long as no team is practicing during the time you come in; you’re free to play some games! You might find a couple of people to play with, too!
I took a trip over to the e-Sports lounge to find a Smash Bros. tournament going on, and I was even offered to participate. I declined, but I got to talk with Jackson Hill, the captain of the Smash Bros. team. I asked him how to get involved with the e-Sports teams, and this is what he said: “It’s great because you can walk up here and hang out and play games.
If you’re interested in joining a team, you can contact the team captain or Sandra Martin, who’s been a big help for getting this started. If you want to play Smash, you’re talking to the right guy!” He proceeded to wink, smile, and walk away as I laughed. He is right though, if you’re interested in getting involved with E-Sports, send an email to Sandra Martin at sandramartin@saumag.edu.
You can also find more information about Mulerider E-Sports by going to web.saumag.edu/mulerideresports or the Mulerider E-Sports Facebook page!
