It’s official. Willamette University has claimed the world record for the game of Red Light/Green Light — for a second time.
The Guinness Book of World Records confirmed the win this month. The record pertains to the Aug. 28, 2015 race on the Quad, which drew a mix of 1,203 students, staff, alumni and their families.
For Bryan Schmidt, director of Campus Recreation, the victory is momentous. But the true achievement was the game’s ability to unite the Willamette community.
“I love it when we can pause for a moment and come together for something fun,” he says. “Relying on each other to achieve a common goal — breaking a world record — helps build spirit at Willamette.”
Willamette first set a world record in Red Light/Green Light in August 2013, but lost its title early last year to an event in Phoenix, Arizona. This time around, Willamette beat the existing record by 67 people — evidenced by photographs, drone footage and a sign-in sheet with each player’s name.
Schmidt says there are no immediate plans to set another world record, but he’s open to exploring possibilities in the next year or two.