'Paranoia' Game Causing Safety Risks, Accidents: GBN Principal

NORTHBROOK, IL — The principal of Glenbrook North High School is warning parents of safety risks from a game being played among teams of students. Principal John Finan told the school community in an email Thursday that police are "very concerned" due to receiving reports of "potentially dangerous situations" involving teams of GBN students playing "Paranoia" around Northbrook.

Recent incidents have included car accidents, students seen in cars with what appears to be a gun and students sneaking around the homes of opponents, according to Finan.

"GBN does not support this game in any way," Finan wrote. "Although the participants are focused on having fun, there have been incidents that pose safety concerns within the community."

"Paranoia" is a Nerf tournament with a $25 buy-in, according to a report on the game from Glenbrook South last year. It features five-person teams competing to eliminate an opposing squad every week.

Not only might people mistake Nerf guns for real weapons, Finan suggested, but residents might suspect participating students are burglars.

"We encourage you to have a conversation with your student regarding their participation in the game," he wrote.

Other rules include: no Nerf weapons on campus ever, no breaking and entering, no targeting players at work, in city buildings or while driving, Glenview Announcements reported last year. Parental notification was also required to avoid having the police called on players, under GBS's version of the game.

A "naked rule" has also reportedly protected unclothed participants at GBS and New Trier.

Glenbrook North Principal John Finan did not respond to a request for comment about the game.

Northbrook police did respond to requests for comment Monday or Tuesday.

Wednesday afternoon, a village spokesperson provided the following statement:

The Village of Northbrook is always concerned about the safety and well-being of all citizens in the community. The resurgence of the "paranoia" game in which youths form teams and try to tag the other team's members through the use of toy guns pose a risk to the players. Northbrook Police recently responded to a traffic crash related to the game. Fortunately, this incident did not result in injuries to occupants of the vehicle or members of the community. The behaviors involved in the game can easily be misinterpreted by others not aware that youths are participating in the game. The Northbrook Police Department will follow our policies of enforcing traffic laws as well as other statutes regarding disorderly conduct, trespass, and others that could be violated by players involved in the game. We urge parents to have a discussion with their kids regarding their participation in the game.

» Teenage 'Paranoia': A Suburban Game of Nerf Guns and Optional Nudity