“It’s you, isn’t it?” my friend shouted across the table.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Are you even paying attention?” I responded back sarcastically.
This game of “Chameleon” was getting out of hand. I was tired of being accused of being the Chameleon, even though I knew there was no hope, but I dared not say anything. The game ended with all of us laughing, despite the yelling and fighting, because everyone knew I was the imposter. Another round followed … and another … and another.
It is not just me who loves a good tabletop game. Senior cell and molecular biology major Tiffany Bownds loves the thrill of mysteries and games so much that she started her own club at Union University in the fall of 2024 called Mysteries, Spies and Allies.
As a New Mexico native, Union was never on Bownds’ radar — that is, until she looked at niche.com.
“Originally, I was going to go to my sister’s school, but then I found Union and I really liked the culture and people,” Bownds said.
Throughout her journey in high school and now at Union, one thing has remained the same for Bownds — mystery games and puzzles.
“In high school, my friend group often bonded over games where we all had secret roles,” Bownds said.
She realized a lot of the activities she was passionate about involved mystery.
“Everyone’s role and input becomes super important, and I think it makes it easier to connect with others,” Bownds said.
This idea of collaboration through mystery is the core of Mysteries, Spies and Allies. Even the club’s name reflects both its competitive and cooperative nature. Members might be plotting against each other one moment, then teaming to crack a clue the next.
“I wanted to create some of the community I had felt from those activities in high school to my college experience,” Bownds said.
Bownds has done just that through Mysteries, Spies and Allies.
“The events that my club does mainly involve anything with having a secret role, being anonymous, mysteries or puzzles,” Bownds explained.
The games this club plays range from Secret Hitler, Werewolf and Chameleon to mystery movie nights, “Murder in the Dark” or escape rooms. However, one thing that drives the community aspect of the club is the month-long events.
Bownds created Secret Sister, where an older girl is paired with a younger girl, but the younger girl has no idea who her Secret Sister is. They send each other letters, prayer requests and support. At the end of the month, there is a reveal party where the younger sisters find out who their big sister is.
“It’s really great to watch people build friendships that way, and that’s why I wanted ‘Allies’ to be in the title of the club,” Bownds said.
Along with Secret Sister, they play Assassin, which is a favorite month-long event. Each member gets a target, and their goal is to stick a sticker on their target and eliminate them. Then, they get a new target until only one person remains.
“These events bring a sense of excitement, so everyone can get super involved and invested,” Bownds explained.
These events may seem at the surface as fun, light-hearted games, which is true, but they serve a deeper purpose. This deeper purpose is the reason why people are so enthralled with mysteries — it’s what keeps people coming back.
“I think it helps to build critical thinking skills, and it is a great group project because everyone can be involved in figuring out what’s going on,” Bownds said. “I think it’s great at building teams.”
Members of this club are not just having fun; they are learning how to listen, collaborate and work together to find a solution and make their voice heard.
“This club has made it easier to formulate my thoughts and be able to have input in things,” Bownds said. “With this group being small, warm and welcoming, it’s easy to start speaking out about things.”
Bownds explains that Mysteries, Spies and Allies is a great place to meet new people.
“Through this club, I have met people I would have never met before,” Bownds said. “It’s nice to just see everyone gather in one place and have a diverse community.”
Even though the club is young, it is continuing to grow, with meetings of up to 14 people.
“People who have joined really want to stay, and we’ve been getting a good, consistent group,” Bownds said.
The biggest challenge? The next steps after Bownds graduates.
“I’m really hoping to get more freshmen and sophomores involved, because if the club continues, I will need them to run it,” Bownds said.
However, running a club like this is not as easy as it looks. It takes passion, attention, and creativity.
“There’s so many aspects that require so much attention,” Bownds explained. “I need someone who is as passionate about it as I have been to build and continue this community.”
Bownds is confident and hopeful, despite this challenge, that this club will continue to grow every member and be a place of community and unity.
For now, though, Mysteries, Spies and Allies continues to bring a touch of suspense to campus life, reminding students that sometimes the best way to build community is through secrecy, strategy and surprise.
“This is a great place to make friends — or allies — if you will,” Bownds said, with a smirk.
