Zombies and humans walk together during truce, but promise greater battles to come

Zombie students walked alongside
humans on Wednesday at Utah
State University during a short
truce between the two sides in
the zombie war.   

Zombies and humans converged outside Luke’s Café on the Utah State University campus today. 

With the zombie horde temporarily neutralized, both humans and zombies walked together to bring the zombie apocalypse to the attention of the campus' student body.

“Our goal is to raise awareness of zombies and general alertness,” said Steven Collins, a human general.

As both humans and zombies amassed, human survivors were allowed a brief moment to reunite with former comrades who had succumb to the zombie plague.

“We were a team, we were a threesome, and then she got turned,” said Ivie Van Lent, a human survivor. “It’s very upsetting. We were a team and now she’s attacking me. It’s heartbreaking, and now we have to kill her.”

Human Dallin Tinkham used the zombies' neutralized state to his advantage.

“I painted myself in zombie blood so they would think I was one of them,” Tinkham said, his clothes reeking with the gut-wrenching stench of the undead. “It’s a great way to get inside their minds and take them down from inside.”

As the walk began, humans stood tall as the zombies shuffled, stumbled and groped their way to the Taggart Student Center. A low hymn-like song was sung before the zombies and humans entered the TSC.

Students stopped and stared as the moans of the zombies filled the halls of the building. As the humans and zombies made their way upstairs, one zombie left rotting fingers behind as he crawled his way to the second floor.

Once on the second floor, the stench of zombie corpse was overwhelming. One zombie tapped at the glass outside the Marketplace Grill, drool rolling down her chin.

Once the zombies and humans made it outside, the humans were dismissed. According to zombie Alex Meadows, the brief uniting of humans and zombies would not stop the epidemic.

“After the walk, it’s going to get even worse,” Meadows said as he stood among the human participants.

But according to Tinkham the walk only empowered humans’ to struggle for survival.

“We are not going down without a fight,” Tinkham said.

 UnDeadline reporters Dominic Bohne, Sierra Copeland, Jamie Keyes, Jaimie Son, and Katie Larsen contributed to this report.

Zombie presence made known on USU campus

A pack of zombies marched through Utah State University's campus on Wednesday — not to find food, but to bring attention to undead rights.  

At noon today, a horde of zombies congregated outside the Agriculture Sciences Building on the Utah State University campus before beginning the Undead Walk, an effort to make the zombie presence known on campus.

Innocent people watched as the pack of about 40 zombies made its way to the Taggart Student Center, entered and silently staggered through the building.

“It was weird,” said Brian Isom, who was among the crowd of humans in the TSC. “I was actually sending snap chats of it to my friends.”

The Undead Walk was intended not to hunt out humans, but to let the humans know that zombies are here to stay, according to Nicolas Pollock, a member of the zombie pack.

Pollock said that humans are currently immune to zombie attacks due to limited rations of newly formulated immunizations. These immunizations are expected to run out at 3 p.m. today, rendering the humans vulnerable to zombie attacks once again.

Pollock was infected with the zombie virus yesterday, and today was his first day as a zombie.

“I was a little distraught when I first got turned into a zombie, but now it’s kind of fun chasing humans,” Pollock said.

Although changing allegiances wasn’t easy for Pollock at first, the zombie virus is helping him forget his human loyalties.

“I still have friends that are humans,” Pollock said. “My girlfriend is a human, so I’m hunting her. I know where she lives. She’d better watch out.”

The Undead Walk concluded at 12:22 p.m., and the zombies dispersed to await the end of the humans’ immunity.

UnDeadline reporters Bradley Bair, Marley McClune, Morgan Jacobsen, Eliza Welsh and Jeff Dahdah contributed to this report.

Tuesday night mission doubles number of zombies

Coltin Grover, Jon Kuhl and Steven Collins prepare for battle.

Thirteen zombies clashed on Friday evening with about 75 humans in a battle that resulted in considerable casualties for resistance fighters from Utah State University.

The fight, over a base camp in a field on the north side of 1100 North, included about a third of the registered combatants in the war. Tori Winslow, president of the League of 

Supernatural Nations, said there were 260 known fighters.

“The missions are the highlight of the [war]," she said. "We hope that people come out and it will be epic."

And to zombie leader Coltin Grover, it was. 

Grover, who has gone by the name "Omega" since his undeath, had predicted victory for his fellow zombies. 

“We’re going to strike them down as they set up a base camp tonight,” he said before the battle.

Grover said there were 40 zombies across Utah State leading into the mission. “I’m hoping to double that number tonight,” he said.

The battle lasted an hour. Afterward, Grover reported the number of zombies had doubled. 

“We thought we were safe, we were wrong,” said Jon Kuhl, a leader in the human resistance. “We lost some scouts, we lost some good men, but the strong will survive.”

Kuhl also said he and his fellow humans had completed all of their mission objectives. 

“We found ammo and we have a full operating base,” Kuhl said.

In addition to infecting more humans, Greta Coldesina helped her fellow zombies complete their objective: taking an antidote from a fellow zombie. The serum resets a zombie’s feed timer — the time during which the undead must eat to avoid perishing — for 48 hours. 

“Apparently it was really big deal,” Coldesina said.

The number of zombies and humans participating in the war is being updated at hvzsource.com/zombieaggies.

UnDeadline reporters Scott Hall, Caroline Peterson, Itzel Leon, Kris Hyde, Madison Maners, Stacey Worster contributed to this report

Human numbers fall in north campus battle

Members of the human resistance army prepare for battle against a zombie horde on Tuesday night. 

After a long day of battling zombies, a beleaguered band of humans assembled Tuesday evening to collect supplies and reinforce fellow combatants. By the end of the night, many of the humans had suffered a ghastly undeath, while others were struggling to trust one another. 

The humans built a barricade near the north side of Utah State University’s campus for their new operating base. Shortly after beginning the project, the zombies attacked. 

The desire for human flesh compelled the zombies as they charged toward the humans' shelter. The humans protected themselves with Nerf projectiles and sock bombs, both of which are known to be toxic to the undead. 

“Make sure you have socks at the ready because guns do jam,” resistance militia commander Gen. Sparkles told the gathered humans as they awaited the attack. 

“Keep it tight,” said human Gen. Jon Kuhl. “We out number them.”

Arms and legs were left strewn across the battlefield as the human defenses — and trust — were compromised. 

  

“It was so intense. The whole time I thought I was going to die and I couldn’t trust the people behind me,” said human Leslie Bredthauer.  

Human commanders reported that moral was high before the battle, but as undeath took hold of many among their ranks, the atmosphere quickly changed. 

“The zombies rushed, and we were all spread out," human Cassandra Collard said. "We were running for our lives.”

“I have seen so many people die in front of me,” said human Jacob Tibbitts.

Paranoia is now the overriding emotion for many of the surviving humans.

“I can’t trust anyone,” said human Dylan Jones, who said one of the greatest challenges of being human was "looking over your shoulder every time."

Zombies are infecting more people than many human combatant leaders had predicted, but there still is hope for the human race, said Eric Van Nieuwenhutzen. 

“Hide first, then run, then fight," Van Nieuwenhutzen said. "If you follow those rules you will make it." 

UnDeadline reporters Dominic Bohne, Sierra Copeland, Jamie Keyes, Jaimie Son, and Katie Larsen contributed to this report.

Zombies attack humans on first mission

An abandoned trailer park, north of the Lundstrom Student Center on the campus of Utah State University, was the site of the first major battle in a war that has overtaken the northern Utah town of Logan.

About 75 humans had fallen back into the seeming refuge of the park on Tuesday evening. A group of zombies ambushed the base five minutes into the mission.

By the end of the night, the number of known zombies on Utah State's campus had increased from 38 to 70.

The humans split into three groups to complete the mission. Their first objective was to find a generator to power the base.

Squads of humans, who were sent out to retrieve supplies for the base, were attacked by the zombies, said Tyler Stewerdson.

Stewerdson, who was a member of one of the squads, said the band of humans was “demolished” by the zombies.

“The zombies probably ambushed the base three or four times,” Stewerdson said.

Before leaving for the base, earlier in the evening, the humans had been briefed by three generals about the goal of the mission. Gen. Sparkles addressed the group about going out into the battle.

“Remember, the key is numbers,” Sparkles said. “Have a couple buddies with you. Don’t leave your buddy.” 

Nathanael Patrick Barney, who was turned into a zombie earlier today, said the zombies attacked ruthlessly.

Barney said the strategy of the zombies was to kill at all costs and target weak humans. 

“We more than doubled our numbers,” said zombie Craig Nielsen. “The mission went very well.”

UnDeadline reporters Hannah Hendricks, Emily Lindley, Stewart Ulrich, Christopher Campbell and Alora Clark contributed to this report.

The zombie outbreak grows

Officials have reported that at least five humans were being infected with the zombie virus each hour on Tuesday. 

Five zombies an hour. That's the rate at which the undead legions were growing at Utah State University as of Tuesday afternoon after the zombie virus began spreading on campus earlier in the morning.

In response to the outbreak students have started initiating different survival strategies.

“People are beginning to move in groups,” said Jake Bednar, a member of an anti-undead paramilitary group known as The Resistance. “Some groups have started carrying boxes filled with darts to protect themselves.”

In addition to fighting zombies with Nerf darts, which are toxic to the undead, a few people like Hannah Stallard are battling their attackers with sock bombs, which are also poisonous to zombies.

Stallard said, though, that avoidance and running are the best ways to stay alive. She specifically is avoiding the Taggart Student Center and is traveling alone to avoid drawing attention to herself.

“I don’t feel that threatened yet," Stallard said. "I’ve only seen two zombies in the safe zones and haven’t seen any walking to class.”

Stallard acknowledged, however, that as the week continues and more people are infected the threat will grow.

UnDeadline reporters Amanda Ahlman, Cassidy Stephens, Sara Bailey, Mitch Watkins, Robyn Van Valkenburg contributed to this report.

Humans successfully rescue their own.

Zombies at Utah State University appear to becoming even more hungry of human flesh.

A human trapped by zombies in the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation building at Utah State University was rescued today by the anti-undead paramilitary organization The Resistance. 

Four zombies had the human cornered in the building at 6:30 p.m. After making a phone call, The Resistance organized a rescue squad of four humans.

“It was pretty intense," said Jacob Tibbitts, the squad commander. "We didn’t know where the zombies were going to be.”

The mission required the squad to travel from Mountain View Tower, a student housing complex, to the HPER building. 

Two squad members reportedly took a more dangerous route, which caused complications in the mission.

“We had to follow them so they didn’t get caught,” Tibbitts said.

The mission was successfully completed and all humans survived, but Kenneth Fryar-Ludwig of the League of Supernatural Nations said similar operations might not be as successful in the near future. 

“It is getting harder for the humans,” Fryar-Ludwig said. 

UnDeadline reporters Amanda Ahlman, Cassidy Stephens, Mitch Watkins, Robyn Van Valkenburg and Sara Bailey contributed to this report.

‘Door crashing’ proves fatal for humans

A zombie waits for human prey on the campus of Utah State University on Tuesday.    

At 11:41 a.m. today, three zombies waited outside the Health, Physical Education and Recreation building on the Utah State University campus in what anti-zombie militia members are calling a "door crash."

The ambush proved fatal for Brandon Davis, who had been a key fighter for the humans during the early hours of the war against the undead.

The zombie army has been gaining in numbers on the strength of similarly planned attacks like the door crash, a tactical approach to infecting humans that entails a decoy. 

In such ambushes, zombies station themselves outside of a safe zone, act as if they are scared of the approaching human’s stun orbs and proclaim vocally that they won’t attack. As soon as the human is close enough to the entry of the building, an infected zombie runs out of the door and proceeds to being the gnawing of human flesh that spreads the undead virus. 

Acting as the distraction, zombie Kenzie Crapo waited for Davis to approach her. 

Crapo later said she had hoped to hold onto what she called a “beautiful life” prior to the attack that claimed her own mortal life. 

“I stayed up until one in the morning because I was so anxious," Crapo said. "I thought I would last longer than I did... now, I have helped kill three humans by being a decoy.”

At least 23 other humans had succumbed to the virus early Tuesday. Like the rest, Crapo said she now cannot resist her desire for human flesh.

Not all humans have resisted the plague.

James Kelmer voluntarily accepted the zombie virus as part of the initial outbreak. 

“I understood that the virus was inevitably going to take over the humans," Kelmer said. "I asked myself, ‘why should I fight for a losing team?’ So I didn’t bother running or hiding, I accepted my fate.” 

Kelmer expressed pride in his infection. 

“I have already killed five humans. As of right now, I am the Most Valuable Zombie,” he said.
Many zombies have begun treating the destruction of the human race as a sport and are awarding one another titles such as "MVZ."

The infected are staying connected and updated about the location of humans by use of text messaging and cell phones — a technological advantage some humans were not expecting, given the undead reputation for brainlessness.   

UnDeadline reporters Branson Smith, Bennett Purser, Mina Sayer, William Christensen, and Elisabeth Gee contributed to this report. 

Undead pack hunters claim human victim as outbreak spreads to Utah

Just hours into an undead outbreak at Utah State University on Tuesday, zombies had begun hunting in packs.

In what might be the first instance of a mass attack of the undead on a human victim in Utah since the last near apocalypse, a student was attacked by a hoard of zombies just outside the Taggart Student Center at Utah State University at 9:31 a.m. today.

The attack is a part of a nationwide zombie outbreak that has reached Logan, a college town in northern Utah about 18 miles south of the Idaho border.  

Officials have yet to release the identity of the victim. Survivors said it was a young woman. 

“I was in a state of shock, I wasn’t sure what had just happened or if I could believe it,” said Dallan Naumann, one of the survivors of the attack. “They came out of nowhere, so we all just sprinted for the nearest building. I turned around and there was the woman. One zombie bit her on the arm. Soon the rest swarmed her.”

Naumann said the student was soon undead herself. Survivors said she left the scene with the same pack of zombies that had taken her mortal life. 

“There was nothing I could do,” Naumann said. “All I could do was pray.”

A citizen militia calling itself Zombie Attack Prevention has assembled to fight what its members have termed "zombie terrorism." 

“It’s absolutely horrifying that these things are spreading everywhere,” ZAP member Casey Williams said. “My heart goes out to the student and her family. I only hope we can help prevent any other attacks from happening.”

Williams is advising fellow humans to stay indoors. Those who must venture outside should be ready to run, he said. Williams also advised humans to travel in groups and remain vigilant.

“We aren’t sure how widespread the outbreak is just yet," Williams said, "so everyone should be on the lookout.”

UnDeadline reporters Sarah Winder, Mandi West, Lindsey Snyder, Taylor Condie and Ron Matheson contributed to this report.

Citizens prepare for zombie outbreak

Society of Professional Journalists president Dave Cullier was among the recent victims of a zombie outbreak in New Orleans. Public safety officials in the Mountain West are now reporting an impending outbreak in the Utah.
Photo by Michael Koretzky.    

On Monday at 9 p.m., citizens gathered in preparation for the zombie apocalypse expected to hit Utah State University the following day. 

Kenneth Fryar-Ludwig of the League of Supernatural Nations, or LSN, addressed a concerned group of citizens who were preparing to fight off the zombie apocalypse in the morning. He instructed the group on the rules of engagement toward zombies and gave the assembled humans some advice:  

“Don’t be stupid,” Fryar-Ludwig said. “Don’t be a douchebag.” 

Footage was shown of a zombie attack on an undisclosed campus which confirmed speculation of an impending outbreak at USU’s campus. 

Human Gen. Jon Kuhl acknowledged the rumors of the zombie outbreak.

“We thought we dealt with them last year,” Kuhl said. “We thought we dealt with them the year before that, but apparently not.”   

Hayley Williams, a concerned student at USU, attended the meeting.

“I am stocking up on ammo and weapons, and I will be taking precautions to minimize exposure,” Williams said. 

Information was provided to the citizens regarding an unidentified Original Zombie, or OZ, that was expected to begin infecting citizens on campus Tuesday. The individual appears to be a human, but sources speculated the OZ would be the cause of the outbreak.

Officer Sutton Hanzalik of the USU Department of Public Safety gave citizens counsel on safety. 

“Don’t involve the innocent civilians,” Hanzalik said.

The LSN advised the militia to only use Nerf gun weapons in the evening in order to avoid innocent casualties. Polyester resin, one of the substances used to create Nerf projectiles, is toxic to zombies, according to the LSN.     

“Follow your orders, keep your ammo ready and never trust anyone,” Kuhl told his troops. 

Following the conclusion of the meeting at 9:47 p.m., citizens were given identification cards for safety and recognition purposes.

UnDeadline reporters Bradley Bair, Marley McClune, Morgan Jacobsen, Eliza Welsh and Jeff Dahdah contributed to this report.