’Tis the season of witches, ghosts, goblins, and ghouls. But members of Michigan’s Zombie Club warn that zombies could be lurking in your neighborhood too—and not the kind that say “trick or treat.”

Founded in December 2010, the group’s mission is to prepare the U-M campus for what it deems “the eventual zombie apocalypse.” U-M senior Doug Fischer, a founder and the club’s Zombie Master, says that the organization’s existence is crucial to campus safety.

“I decided to join in the efforts not only to save the entire world, but also to save myself,” says Fischer. “I realized that if the looming apocalypse had begun last year, I most likely would’ve been eaten, the same as the rest of the University. Preparing myself, in addition to a group of fellow highly skilled and intelligent students, became necessary.”

Junior Kevin Binder, the club’s Master of Human-Zombie Relations, maintains a focus on diplomacy.

“I consider it my job to reach out to the zombie masses in hope of striking some sort of dialogue between the two sides, instead of mindlessly reverting back to the bloody means of settling this feud that our forefathers so relied upon,” says Binder.

With 250 “survivors” on its email list and approximately 80 active participants, the club has held a variety of campus activities, including “Zombie Awareness Day,” in which members provided tips to fellow students on how to protect themselves. Additional plans in the works include a mass zombie walk across campus, as well as “You’ve Been Eaten Day” and “Zombie Infiltration Day.”

What exactly do the club members advise that we do in the case of a potential zombie apocalypse? They’ve provided 10 tips below.

 

10 Survival Tips:

1. Remember this simple rhyme: Aim for the head, knock ‘em dead. 

2. Avoid highly populated areas. Try to find a stronghold outside of cities to avoid increased danger. 

3. Use guns sparingly and cautiously, or get a silencer. The loud noise created from gunshots will attract more zombies to your location. 

4. Canned goods are the way to go; don’t encumber yourself with perishable products. 

5. Form a team of people with a diverse skill set. Every group needs a leader, doctor and/or nurse, entertainer (to stay sane), and supporters.

6. Remember this simple rhyme: Aim for the head, knock ‘em dead. 

7. Avoid highly populated areas. Try to find a stronghold outside of cities to avoid increased danger. 

8. Use guns sparingly and cautiously, or get a silencer. The loud noise created from gunshots will attract more zombies to your location. 

9. Canned goods are the way to go; don’t encumber yourself with perishable products. 

10. Form a team of people with a diverse skill set. Every group needs a leader, doctor and/or nurse, entertainer (to stay sane), and supporters.