If you haven't heard of the "Birds Aren't Real" movement yet, you will soon. It is a society of people who believe, essentially, that the birds that exist and live in our world today are not really birds at all, but rather government surveillance drones. These people claim that their theory dates back all the way back to 1959.

This group, recently taking College of Charleston's campus by storm, preaches that birds all over the country are secretly just cameras controlled by our government used to watch our every move.

Since "Birds Aren't Real" has become so prevalent in the CofC campus recently, I decided to sit down with its leader, its members (supposedly called disciples) and fellow kids around campus who have been affected by the movement to see just how serious and impactful this conspiracy has become.

The first mention incoming freshman seem to have had with "Birds Aren't Real" are the flyers and stickers posted all around campus. Some heard from word of mouth, but the majority of people just started seeing tons of signs posted all around their residence hall advertising: "Birds Aren't Real" with a picture of a bird and text beside it that reads: " = Government Surveillance Drone."

So besides a national scale, what made this fad so popular among CofC freshmen? Well, after talking with people, I met with the suspected instigator of the posters and flyers we all see around campus.

For privacy's sake, I won't give you their name. But I will give you what they have to say about this movement and everything it entails.

I met with the leader of this group in a dorm room, which was completely filled with "Birds Aren't Real" paraphernalia and also a few ruined posters which had hate plastered across them.

Supposedly, he and his friends thought it was odd, yet humorous how a good amount of people not only opposed their movement but that they actively went out of their way to destroy their flyers.

And ruined paper isn't the only hate they've received. On Second Sunday, when Charleston closes down a portion on King Street to host festivities, the leader of this group went out with a poster board that read "Make Love, Not Birds" across it. He said it was for the purpose of "enlightening people", and a fun, light-hearted way to get people interested in their cause. However, he received pushback as well, one woman going so far as to deter him and tell him he would be scaring the children.

Despite the hate, he seemed very optimistic about it all, and he and his friends have enjoyed how their movement has evolved so far. The leader says he is open to creating a volunteer-based club, though he would not affiliate it with College of Charleston.

He says that he enjoys the independence of their group and would rather the attention focus more on the club itself, than the fact that it is affiliated with the college. His members seem to think the same thing, one even said they enjoy the work they're doing now, and they have more freedom because of the independence in being a non-college related club.

This member says that they push their agenda to buy passing out flyers, posting stickers around Charleston and wearing merchandise in support of the cause. The members also regulate the @birdsarentreal.charleston Instagram page, on which the leader says you can email or direct message him through if you are interested in helping out or have any questions.

So this group is actively involved in its community, but what do the people of CofC think about the movement? Some people are not too happy about the whole ordeal. The people actively involved in the "Birds Aren't Real" movement, have been posting signs outside people's dorm doors, which isn't exactly allowed in residence halls.

This action has received a complaint, but mostly from those who don't support or find humor, in the message these people are posting. One opposer says, "I think it's a little stupid. I don't think you should say they're fake because that supports fake information."

Another commented,"...it's kind of obnoxious, they sort of bully people? But "bully" is an extreme word... I just wish they didn't put that stuff on my door, I don't want that lol". And this opinion was shared by a few people I've talked to, many saying that if the agenda wasn't pushed on them, then it wouldn't be a problem. Another issue was the dorm policy of flyers, which are not allowed in residence halls due to The College's sustainability guidelines.

I spoke with Residence Life about the issue and they pointed out the complication, "It wouldn't be a problem if he wasn't using so much paper. But using free prints at TD Arena and distributing them under peoples doors isn't sustainable and they aren't being recycled." With this in mind, is the movement really a positive thing? Or is it a mean-spirited joke cast around campus?

Luckily for all our "Birds Aren't Real" advocates out there, the amount of support this group has gotten far exceeds those who aren't too fond of it. For the majority of the people I talked to, even beginning the conversation they were laughing, most of them telling me they own flyers ad have put them up in their rooms.

Some supporters decorated their room with origami birds made out of the flyers, which alludes to the "Birds Aren't Real"'s national t-shirt design, featuring a paper origami bird on a blank background. One girl spoke to the positive impact this group has had, saying "It's for fun and people are making a joke, I've seen people making connections and bonds in the Berry [dorm] community."

Other students said they've created jokes with their friends about it, and find the whole thing very humorous, and a very good way for their class to bond together over something.

One of the members spoke to faculty about his "Birds Aren't Real" when they asked him about it, and it resulted in a long conversation about the history of it and how the freshman class has adopted it. The faculty member loved it so much they asked for merchandise and flyers of their own. And it didn't stop there!

Other faculties have said they would gladly oversee a CofC club for this group, though the leader still seems adamant that they should remain independent of the college.

At the end of the day, the "Birds Aren't Real" situation that has rocked Charleston's campus is one so very unique, and one that has truly had an overall positive vibe with students.

For me, I think sustainability is important, but the message and humor behind the movement are so fun for me, and I think it's important for students to have an outlet like this that they can express themselves with.

Maybe the people of "Birds Aren't Real" can work towards a more sustainable way of getting their message across, and then perhaps even more students will be able to get behind this satirical phenomenon that has rallied so many.

And to end, I'll leave you with the motto of this legendary organization: "Stay Woke, Cougs"