If you’re new to Commonwealth University’s Bloomsburg campus and wondering why everyone’s buzzing about Survivor, they’re talking about Bloomsburg Survivor, a student-run competition that transforms our campus into a whirlwind of strategy, athleticism, and social scheming every semester.
The Basics: Survivor in the Susquehanna Valley
Picture this: our own take on the CBS reality show, unfolding across the 366-acre Bloomsburg campus of Commonwealth University, right between the Academic Quad and Nelson Field House. Students form tribes (often Python and Gator), tackle challenges, and vote each other out at Tribal Councils until one claims the title of Sole Survivor. It’s organized chaos with rules, woven into campus culture as much as grumbling about the hilly trek between upper and lower campus.
Challenges happen all over campus. You might see students sprinting across the Academic Quad with inflatable body bags (yep, it’s real), playing wild games like “Pinball Dodgeball” near the Student Recreation Center, or solving puzzles by the iconic fountain—a spot you’ll likely use for graduation photos down the road.
The competition spans several weeks each semester, with episodes filmed and posted on YouTube at @SurvivorBloomsburg. The Voice, the student newspaper, covers every episode, blindside, and dramatic Tribal Council vote.
What Goes Down in These Competitions
Past seasons have featured creative challenges that make use of every corner of the Bloomsburg campus. Think volleyball on the courts near Columbia Hall, relay races starting at the track behind Redman Stadium and ending at the football field’s 50-yard line, or trivia hunts darting between trees on the Quad.
Some challenges are pure athleticism—like dodgeball mashed up with bowling. Others test your brain, like a campus-wide game of telephone with tongue twisters spread across 50 feet. Then there’s “Battleship Twister,” which is every bit as chaotic as it sounds.
The social game is just as intense. Alliances form faster than you can say “first challenge.” Immunity idols are hidden around campus, so expect to see players poking around benches or building corners. Safety keys, idol nullifiers, and other twists keep everyone—players and viewers—on edge.
Season 3: The Game Gets Wild
The Season 2 finale dropped a game-changer for Season 3, confirmed by George Kinzel, Director of the Center for Leadership & Engagement, via a teaser trailer. This time, there’s a massive twist: “When someone’s voted out, they’re not going home—they’ll vanish to a mysterious place on campus called ‘Husky Island.’”
The campus is abuzz with questions. What’s Husky Island? Where on our 366-acre campus could they stash voted-out players? How will this twist shake up the game? If you’re familiar with the CBS show, think Redemption Island or Edge of Extinction—but pulling this off on a college campus, where everyone shares classes, dining halls, and residence halls, is a logistical puzzle.
Who’s Behind the Chaos
Bloomsburg Survivor is powered by student organizations, with the Center for Leadership & Engagement in Kehr Union (home of Husky Lounge) at the helm. George Kinzel has been a key figure since the start, overseeing the event’s organization.
Contestants come from all corners of campus—nursing majors, digital forensics students, athletes, artists, and more. Some are Survivor superfans who’ve been scheming since their acceptance letters; others join on a whim. Both have claimed victory.
Beyond the players, dozens of students volunteer to run challenges, set up Tribal Council, and handle logistics, making this one of the largest student-led productions on the Bloomsburg campus.
Why New Students Should Care
Bloomsburg Survivor is more than entertainment—it’s a crash course in campus life. First, it’s a blast. Where else can you watch your quiet hallmate from Elwell Hall pull off a blindside that’d impress Jeff Probst?
Second, it’s a sneaky way to learn campus geography. When you hear about challenges at the “track behind Redman Stadium” or “near Honeysuckle Student Apartments,” you’ll quickly get the lay of the land. By the finale, you’ll navigate campus better than some seniors.
Third, it’s a social icebreaker. Whether you’re Team Python or Team Gator, everyone’s got opinions on who’s getting voted out next. It’s an easy way to spark conversations in your residence hall, classes, or while grabbing a bite at the Commons.
Keep your eyes peeled for Season 3 updates. With the Husky Island twist set to flip the script, this could be the most unpredictable season yet at Commonwealth University’s Bloomsburg campus.
