As students adjust to the pressures of university life, Daniel De La Cruz found a way to mine away at social anxiety and craft a safe space for all students.
While visiting a friend at the University of North Carolina, De La Cruz, a second-year civil engineering major from Fort Worth, said he saw a flyer for a Minecraft server and was motivated to create a similar one when he returned to Texas Tech.
“When I was visiting around the campus, I saw on a bulletin that they (UNC) had a Minecraft server,” De La Cruz said. “I was like, ‘That’d be really cool to bring to Texas Tech,’ and as soon as I got back I started designing the posters and looking for a service provider.”
Even though he was inspired by the students of UNC, De La Cruz said another reason for creating the server was to form a social environment where students wouldn’t be hampered by class schedules or time restraints.
“There’s not a lot of student things you can get involved in at Tech because the hard part is coordinating with people’s schedules,” De La Cruz said. “I feel like a Minecraft server was really good because people just get on whenever they have time. I’ve seen people get on between one and two in the morning.”
Since opening the server to the public on Aug. 20, De La Cruz said over 100 players have joined. He hosts social gatherings so students can put usernames to faces and connect with each other in the real world.
“We hosted a social where everybody brought food and drinks,” De La Cruz said. “There’s a lot of faceless people on the server, and I would like people to get to know each other and make real, good friendships.”
Texas Tech sophomore studying civil engineering, from Fort Worth, Daniel De La Cruz manages the Minecraft server on his laptop in the College of Media and Communications gaming lounge Nov. 13, 2025.
Jake Cooper
De La Cruz operates both the Tech Minecraft Server and the affiliated Discord server by himself, including paying for the server’s $10 monthly operating cost.
“I’m basically having to do the whole thing myself, but I’m happy to do it,” De La Cruz said. “I can see everybody else is really enjoying it and I wanted to go create that little part of Texas Tech.”
When walking back from a study group in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics building, Alex Moore, a first-year computer engineering major from Myrtle Springs, said he saw a poster for the server and was instantly excited to meet others Mincrafters.
“The poster was just on a random wall and it caught my eye because it had Minecraft on it,” Moore said. “I don’t know too many people, so I figured it would be a nice way to meet people.”
He said the server has helped him open up more and find people he never thought he would otherwise interact with.
“I’ve worked retail a lot, and it’s like picking out a random customer that you like,” Moore said. ”It’s finding someone you wouldn’t go out of your way to interact with normally. It’s a nice change of pace.”
Abigail Moorehead, a first-year marketing major from Dallas, said her mother found the Tech Minecraft Server on Facebook and recommended she join it.
Texas Tech sophomore studying civil engineering, from Fort Worth, Daniel De La Cruz explores the student organized Minecraft server on his laptop in the College of Media and Communications gaming lounge Nov. 13, 2025.
Jake Cooper
“My mom just sent me a text from a Facebook group with other Tech moms that talked about the server,” Moorehead said. “After that, I went to Discord, put in Texas Tech University (into the search filter) and it was the third most popular server on the list.”
As a first-year, Moorehead said the world helped her find people with shared interests and connections, creating a convenient alternative to the regular campus social circles.
“It’s fun talking with people who share your interests outside of just marketing,” Moorehead said. “Usually you would have to find someone in class and talk to them, and that can be a little awkward.”
Moorehead said the server has allowed her to continue her love for the game while also allowing her to open up and connect with others.
“I love Minecraft a lot, and it’s great to be with others who love it too,” Moorehead said.
Students can join the Tech Minecraft Server by accessing the affiliated Discord server. The server is Java only, and students can only access through a PC or laptop.