Hello again, everyone! Did you go to literally any of the Harry Potter’s World events this past fall? Then you’re eligible to take the following survey, and potentially win a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card!
It is perhaps worth mentioning that the Hogwarts Library three volume set is selling for $20 on Barnes and Noble.com. Just in case you’re stumped as to how you might use such riches.
To take the survey, simply follow this link: http://studentvoice.com/alfred/harrypottersworldeventfall15
The survey will be open until February 22nd, at which point you will have lost your shot at those gift cards forever.
Well, first of all, a reminder: the last talk, THE VERY LAST TALK, in the Hogwarts University lecture series is tonight, at 7:30 pm, in the Judson Leadership Center! Learn about feminism in Harry Potter and complete your Hogwarts education.
And, of course, that leads us to the final event of all, the Halloween Ball!
Co-hosted and sponsored by Spectrum, the Halloween Ball is this Saturday, at 8:00 pm, in the Knight Club on Alfred’s campus (in the Powell Center). There will be a live choir performance at 9:00 of several selections of music from the Harry Potter movies, including “Double Trouble,” which you may remember from the third movie:
Additionally, there will be COSTUME AND DRAG COMPETITIONS! For ASTONISHING PRIZES! No, seriously, I spent several minutes in my office just holding some of these prizes and wishing I was eligible to win them. I am so very, very jealous of whoever wins Best of the Halloween Ball. Or second place. Or any of the categories, actually.
Categories include Best Harry Potter/Hogwarts Costume, Best Drag, and Best Halloween/Magic Themed Costume.
So show up in your finest and prepare to bring home some amazing loot.
The Halloween Ball is open to all! Suggested admission is $2 and will be donated to a local charity.
That’s right, we’re closing out the lecture series this Thursday! I can’t believe the Harry Potter’s World event series is coming to a close, but closing it is. All that’s left now are the last lecture and the big Halloween Ball smash this Saturday.
If you’d like a bit more Potter learning before closing it all out in your finest wizarding threads this weekend, please come by the Judson Leadership Center for a discussion of the Harry Potter series and feminism: Muggle Studies Lecture – “My Patronus is Gloria Steinem: Feminism in Harry Potter”
Thursday, October 15th • 7:30 pm • Judson Leadership Center
Ana Gauthier
This workshop will examine Harry Potter through the lens of feminist literary theory, as well as examine the actions of the characters to see where they displayed feminist ideals of equity and equality. Come find out how your favorite characters truly were champions of equality, and who will take home the feminist house cup!
The National Library of Medicine exhibit that has served as the core of this event series is going down today, so you will sadly no longer be able to see it on view. However, the art exhibit in the Scholes Library Pop Up Gallery (small room to the right of the circulation desk) will remain up until the end of term, and the decorative displays in the entryway will also be up for a while longer.
See you Thursday!
Our second-to-last talk is going to be a unique format–a walking tour and talk around Alfred’s own mysterious castle!
University Archivist Laurie McFadden will be giving attendees a taste of the curious, mystical, and magical history of Steinheim Castle, as well as sharing some notable local ghost stories. Follow her on a walking tour of the building as you learn about some of the most interesting legends of the place, and get in the mood for a properly Hogwarts Halloween. History of Magic Lecture – “If These Walls Could Talk”
Thursday, October 8th • 7:30 pm • Steinheim Castle
Laurie McFadden
Reminiscent of the observant and talkative paintings in Hogwarts, University Archivist Laurie McFadden will give a history of the campus castle (Steinheim) and delve into some of the campus ghost stories.
Three lectures left in the Hogwarts University series! We’ve had Herbology, Muggle Studies, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Arithmancy, Charms, AND Care of Magical Creatures classes so far, but this time it’s something new: History of Magic. History of Magic Lecture – “The Hereford Mappa Mundi: Features and Creatures”
Sunday, October 4th • 4:00 pm • Scholes Library Second Floor Classroom
Bridget Riley
A comparison of similarities between Harry Potter’s “Maurader’s Map” and the medieval “Hereford Map,” as well as a discussion of some of the specific creatures and monsters and their strategic placement on the Hereford Map.
Join us for monsters, creatures, and features this Sunday, and stay tuned for announcements about the last two talks–and of course the closing Halloween Ball.
Just four more lectures before Hogwarts University closes for good! (At Alfred, anyway. The exhibit will be moving on to another library, and maybe they’ll be having some exciting programming, too.) This week was a particularly intriguing one to design a flyer for, and a fascinating topic in general: invisibility!
Dr. Danielle Gagne will be providing some insights on invisibility this Thursday, October 1st, at 7:30 pm. The talk will be held in the Scholes Library second floor classroom–just ask at the desk, and the students can direct you to the right place. Be sure to check out the floating candles as you walk into the building!
From Dr. Gagne’s description on our website: Sneaking through the restricted section might be thrilling, but what are the other benefits of being invisible? We’ll talk about the benefits of being unseen, situations in which this is an everyday occurrence, and the science behind modern-day invisibility cloaks. With a little magical lighting, we might cast a charm to make bowls disappear before your very eyes.
Come see live owls from Hawk Creek Wildlife Center this Thursday, September 24th, from 7:30 to 8 pm in Nevins Theater!
The wildlife experts at Hawk Creek are traveling to our campus to present their “Harry Potter’s Owls” program, featuring three live owls as well as a snake (Nagini needs some representation, too!). Come to this Care of Magical Creatures demonstration to see them in person and learn about the lore and legend of owls–and how it stacks up against the feathery reality.
At 30 minutes, this event is shorter than our Hogwarts U. lectures, so be sure to show up on time so you don’t miss it! Many thanks to the Pre-Vet Club for working with us and making it possible to bring this event to campus, as well as the Student Affairs office for assisting with funding via the Student Life Enhancement Fund.
OWLS!
We’re very pleased to introduce a new Hogwarts University professor! Ana Gauthier will be presenting two lectures in the Hogwarts U. series. Ana Gauthier Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw Favorite Subjects: Charms, History of Magic, and Care of Magical Creatures Patronus: Wolf Defense Against the Dark Arts Lecture – “Accio Leadership Skills: Lessons in Leadership Theory from Harry Potter” Muggle Studies Lecture – “My Patronus is Gloria Steinem: Feminism in Harry Potter”
Ana’s talks, on Monday, September 28th and Thursday, October 15th, respectively, are described as follows: Defense Against the Dark Arts Workshop – “Accio Leadership Skills: Lessons in Leadership Theory from Harry Potter” Monday, September 28th • 12:00 pm • Judson Leadership Center
This workshop will explore classic leadership theories and styles through the lens of Harry Potter, using the characters as examples of varying styles, and levels of leadership development. We will examine the Social Change Model of Leadership, the Leadership Challenge, Kohlberg’s Morality Scale, and Chickering and Reisser’s Vectors of Human Development. Brown bag lunch workshop. Muggle Studies Lecture – “My Patronus is Gloria Steinem: Feminism in Harry Potter”
Thursday, October 15th • 7:30 pm • Judson Leadership Center
This workshop will examine Harry Potter through the lens of feminist literary theory, as well as examine the actions of the characters to see where they displayed feminist ideals of equity and equality. Come find out how your favorite characters truly were champions of equality, and who will take home the feminist house cup!
Hope to see you there!
Thank you to everyone who braved the dementor weather on Sunday and filled Dr. Emmons’s talk past capacity!
We’ve had a Potions class and two Herbology talks so far in our Hogwarts University series. This week we’re offering a new subject: Dr. Beth Johnson will be presenting a Muggle Studies class entitled “But It’ll be Fascinating to Study Muggles from the Wizarding Point of View!” From the description of her talk on our libguide: Hermione’s opinion on why she should want to take Muggle Studies, even though she’s Muggle-born, still resonates outside the Harry Potter World. Here, our magic is science, and social science has been researching the impact of the Harry Potter series on readers’ attitudes and behavior since the series established itself as a cultural icon. For example, psychologists have found that reading Harry Potter books reduces people’s prejudice toward disadvantaged people and minority groups. This talk will share some of the amazing findings from studies on the Muggle fans of the books and invite listeners to participate in discussion of the implications of those discoveries.
Dr. Johnson will be speaking this Sunday, September 20th, at 4:00 pm in the Herrick Library Seminar Room. On the same day, the Alfred Village Farmer’s Market will be running their special Hogsmeade Market, with events and vendors themed around the world of Harry Potter. We recommend making a day of it by browsing the Hogsmeade Market and then coming to hear the talk!
Does Sunday seem too far away for more Harry Potter? Fortunately for you, Herrick will also be hosting a showing of the movie Discovering the Real World of Harry Potter. This critically-acclaimed documentary explores the myths and legends that inhabit the real world of Harry Potter, including gods and goddesses, ghosts, alchemy, and much more. The film showing will be at 8:00 pm in the Book End Lounge at Herrick Library, Thursday, September 17th.
In brief: Movie on Thursday, lecture and market on Sunday. Come on by!
Life at Hogwarts University rolls on as we settle into September. This weekend, test your wits against those of your peers at the Harry Potter trivia night in Herrick Library on Saturday, September 12th, starting at 8:00 pm. Work in teams to fight for the glory of victory–as well as some pretty sweet Harry Potter themed prizes. (If any of you have seen the participants in the scavenger hunt walking around with their exciting loot, expect more of the same from this event!)
For those of you who want to keep up with your Hogwarts studies: Haven’t gotten enough Herbology lessons yet? Come take Herbology 101 with Alfred University’s own Professor Sprout: Dr. Cheryld Emmons, Professor of Biology, who specializes in plant breeding, genetics, and the phenology and biodiversity of local flora. Herbology 101 will be a hands-on workshop in which participants will learn how to identify plant species. The lesson will be held at 4:00 pm this Sunday, September 13th, in the Scholes Library second floor classroom.
Hope to see you there!
