Quidditch game flies onto Quad
It was a tranquil day on the Quad. Students meandered through on their way to class or sprawled out on the grass, enjoying a brisk but beautiful day in Syracuse. Suddenly, students riding broomsticks appeared out of nowhere.
As if conjured out of thin air, a Quidditch pitch — complete with goal posts — appeared on the Quad. Students wearing orange and white began a pick-up game of the popular wizarding pastime, launched to fame by the Harry Potter books and films. Although the players’ feet remained rooted firmly on the ground, their steeds more Swiffer than Shooting Star, the two teams provided some high-flying action.
The impromptu match, which lifted off Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. and lasted for about a half-hour, was hosted by University Union Cinemas in conjunction with the Syracuse University Quidditch team to promote screenings of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ this weekend. Students can catch the movie Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. in Gifford Auditorium in Huntington Beard Crouse Hall and in Goldstein Auditorium on South Campus on Thursday and Sunday, also at 8 p.m. At the screening, viewers can also play Harry Potter-themed activities, including trivia games in seating arrangements inspired by the four houses of Hogwarts to win prize packages.
‘Not only is (the Quidditch match) to promote our screenings, but it’s also a great way to connect different student organizations and initiate cross-promotion,’ said Lindsey Colegrove, a junior public relations and information management and technology major and co-director of UU Cinemas.
Judging by many of the Muggle spectators’ surprised expressions, the SU Quidditch team can only benefit from the exposure.
‘We’ve been flying under the radar, and this really got us out there,’ said Drew Shields, a senior advertising and international relations major.
Shields, a captain and founder of the team, started Quidditch at SU during his freshman year. He said he is pleased with the reception it has received.
Combining elements of rugby, dodgeball and cross-country running, the game may look a bit strange to the eye of the unenchanted. But to die-hard Harry Potter fans, Quidditch is the sport of their dreams.
‘I love Harry Potter, and I was really upset when it ended, so being able to play the sport from the books and movies is amazing,’ said Raul Ramos, a freshman communications and rhetorical studies major and a member of the team.
The team will play in the Quidditch World Cup, the mother of all Quidditch tournaments and the only one of its kind. It will take place in New York City from Nov. 12-13 and features hundreds of college teams.
The SU Quidditch team practices on Sundays at the Women’s Building fields, and anyone is welcome to hop on a broom and give the game a whirl.
‘We don’t turn anyone away. We just do it for fun,’ Shields said.
As players sped off to class, the game vanished as quickly as it had materialized. For all who witnessed the match, it was an experience out of the ordinary. The magic of Harry Potter may be confined to pages or the screen, but this impromptu match allowed fans to fall back under its spell.
‘This is the first time I’ve seen Quidditch on the Quad since freshman year,’ said Brian Disher, a senior economics major. ‘People love Harry Potter, they should do this more often.’
Published on October 18, 2011 at 12:00 pm
