It is undeniable that Harry Potter is a phenomenon not only here at Tufts, but everywhere around the world. What students at Tufts may not know, however, is that there is a student group here called the Harry Potter Society.
The group is not officially recognized by Tufts, since the Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) saw the group as overlapping with Beyond the Light, another fantasy group. But nonetheless, the Harry Potter Society will link itself with the Experimental College for a colloquium called "Why Take Harry Potter Seriously?" The event will take place in Barnum 104 from 6:30 to 8 p.m Wednesday.
The Harry Potter Society was approached by the ExCollege to put on an academic discussion about the novels. Rachel Barbarisi of the ExCollege says that the event's goal was to "encourage students to take a seemingly light-hearted topic and explore the ways in which it could be used to effect significant social change." The ExCollege then met with the Harry Potter Society to work out the logistics.
The panel is made up of only two speakers, and the president of the Harry Potter Society, freshman Molly Newman, said that they wanted to keep the topic "concise and focused." The first speaker is Andrew Slack, the president of an international association called the Harry Potter Alliance, a group that gives kids opportunities to practice social justice and community service by demonstrating how Harry Potter novels apply to real life. The second speaker is alum Shawn Klein (LA '95), an editor and co-author of a collection of essays entitled "Harry Potter and Philosophy."
Newman sees many reasons for Tufts students to attend the colloquium. "[Students] will see [philosophy] applied in a modern way to a modern literary phenomenon," she said.
There are reasons for Harry Potter lovers and skeptics alike to go: Those who already love Harry Potter can see why it is more than entertainment, and those who are skeptical about its content or importance can hear experts speak on the books' deeper meanings.
The Harry Potter Society hopes that with this colloquium, the Tufts community will see the Society's organization and dedication. Newman hopes "that the Tufts powers that be will recognize us as a legitimate organization."
