Starfleet Academy’s War College shouldn’t be a joke

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 3, “Vitus Reflux,” introduces a rivalry between the students of Starfleet Academy and the War College who share their San Francisco campus. It’s a very silly episode, focusing on a prank war and a laser tag-like sport meant to teach teamwork and combat tactics. But by making the War College a joke instead of a faction that can really challenge Starfleet’s values, Starfleet Academy showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau are squandering a chance to build on their goals of making the show a mirror to today’s world.