Campus group battles in Peace Park
The Maneater, May 6, 2005 
Zach Honig, staff writer


For members of the Medieval Reenactment Society, it doesn’t get much better than 
a weekly foot tournament in Peace Park.

The group, whose membership is restricted to MU students, is partnered with The 
Shire of Standing Stones, which is composed of Columbia residents.  Both 
organizations are associated with the Society for Creative Anachronism.

The groups meet several times a week for a variety of activities, including 
business meetings, period shooting at a archery range and an arts and science 
night.

Medieval Reenactment Society President Calvin Patten, who is a student a MU’s 
College of Veterinary Medicine, said Monday meetings are often educational.  
Patten has been a member of the SCA for six years and joined the group while 
studying at Iowa State University.

“I just always liked the medieval period,” he said.  “I saw guys up at Iowa 
swinging away at each other.  That looked cool.”

Wednesday afternoon’s foot tournament in Peace Park featured members fighting 
while dressed in medieval battle gear from the time period.

“what we re-enact is what would be considered a 13th century foot tournament,” 
Patten said.  “Aside from the jousting, they did just do fighting tournaments 
where they started off on the ground.”

Katherine Corey, minister of arts and sciences for The Shire of Standing Stones 
said the group has a specific mission.

“It’s a society of hobbyists dedicated to re-creation of European history 
between 600 and 1600,” Corey said.

She said though a member typically maintains one character role while in the 
society, members are serious about maintaining historical accuracy.

Corey said she became a member after learning about the program through her job.

“I used to teach in a gifted enrichment program, junior high level, and we did a 
renaissance festival for the school, and some of the people from the SCA group 
and the community came and put on a demo for us,” she said.  “Of course, the 
junior high kids just ate it up, but I got totally hooked.  I started going to 
their meetings, and I never looked back.”