Northwestern students may soon be able to pass quaffles and dodge bludgers on their very own intramural Quidditch team.
Marc Bourgeois, NU's Intramural Quidditch organizer, said he began reading J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" books at age nine, a hobby that evolved into a "borderline obsession."
The Weinberg sophomore lives near Middlebury College in Vermont, where the muggle, or non-magical, version of the sport was first introduced. Bourgeois said he thought intramural Quidditch could be a "fun way to spend time" and decided to create a "Northwestern Quidditch" Facebook group to spark interest in the sport.
Muggle Quidditch is a "combination of Frisbee, dodgeball and football," Bourgeois said. There are seven players on each side and three hoops (goals) of various sizes. In the wizarding version of the game, players ride around on broomsticks, dodge enchanted rubber projectiles and dive for the winged Golden Snitch. However, in the magic-deprived world, players must be content throwing dodgeballs instead of batting bludgers.
"It's an easy decision for a Harry Potter fan to get into it and a good way to meet people on campus — the sooner we start, the more interest we'll generate and pretty soon we'll have a bunch of teams on campus," Bourgeois said.
He also believes the game could potentially expand to competitive levels, endorsed by the already existent Intercollegiate Quidditch Association, which published "The Intercollegiate Quidditch Guide and Rulebook."
"If we get a lot of people in, hopefully people will organize their own teams and play for a cup eventually," he said.
Claire Lukens, a McCormick sophomore, said she was immediately excited to go to a meeting.
"I think it's perfect for NU," she said. "I feel like our generation, who are at NU now, are the kids that grew up with Harry Potter from beginning to end. NU itself is nerdy so it fits perfectly. We embrace our nerdiness."
Lukens, who studies engineering, is in charge of making the hoops for the game. The first meeting largely focused on appropriate attire for the new team, since most NU students don't own wizarding robes.
Other schools who field their own Muggle Quidditch teams include Emory University and Vassar College.
Jess Elkin, who graduated from Emory in 2008, said she did not join the team because she doesn't like competitive sports.
"I don't think anyone will take it seriously unless they can fly," Elkin said.
lukaszsiuty2013@u.northwestern.edu
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13 comments
Evanston gets lots of revenue from NU and its students, just ask the merchants in downtown Evanston who look forward to the fall when the students get back into town. Summer is their slow time because the residents of Evanston cannot create the cash flow for them that the thousands of students can. Also, if NU left Evanston, the standard of living would drop because many of the workers and academics would move on and there aren't enough people with above average incomes to fill their places, to purchase million dollar plus homes, to hire people to clean their houses and maintain their landscaping. Quit whining and embrace the gem you have in your backyard. Go to events at NU. Attend the concerts and plays. Learn something at the free lectures, Expand your mind not just your bad attitude. You have a veritable feast for the mind in your back yard, eat from the table. As to the Quiddich players, at least their getting exercise, thereby reducing their need for health care dollars by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Would you rather have them drinking beer and puking on your lawn?