Rea and Laughlin decorated cupcakes. The Apartment had “Sweets and Treats.” Fickes focuses on loving their neighbors. But on Monday, February 2, the residents and non-residents of Woodland Hall alike were brought together over their love of the story of the boy who lived. For its Community Hall Night, the Resident Assistants (RAs) of Woodland threw a Harry Potter themed party.
If any Chatham Cougar had journeyed into the usually quiet dorm’s lounge after the life-sized cauldron (meant for the inevitable event evaluations), they would have found a setting that would have had most Potterheads (Harry Potter fans) jumping for joy.
With the well-known Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry crest hung across the door and a snack table that would have given the candy cart on the Hogwart’s Express a run for its galleons, the RAs of Woodland Hall kicked off Chatham’s Annual Hall Olympics–a tradition meant to bring communities together and simultaneously raise money for Relay for Life.
Senior RA Brittany DeMeno planned the event. When asked why she chose J.K. Rowling’s magical world as a theme, DeMeno lightheartedly responded, “Because I love Harry Potter, and this is the only event I got to plan this semester.”
DeMeno’s fellow RA, sophomore Tahmina Tursonzadah, went on to add that the party was meant to, “commemorate Harry Potter.”
Happily sipping butterbeer and dawning the Harry Potter’s famous circular glasses, attendees of the party commemorated the beloved stories by watching the film adaptation of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” stepping away only to make wands, try on the sorting hat, and to sample Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (not to be confused with Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans).
Quoting their favorite lines and reminiscing with one another over favorite and saddest moments in the series, Chatham’s Potterheads enjoyed the party.
One student in particular, sophomore Maggie McGovney, proudly showed off her Hufflepuff pride dressed from head to toe in her house’s colors.
“I wasn’t expecting it to be a Harry Potter party, but I originally went to support Woodland in the Hall Olympics,” McGoveney said with excitement, “Only when I realized it was a Harry Potter party did I decide to stay for the duration, because Harry Potter has been my love ever since I was six.”
McGoveney went on to say, “If Chatham had more Harry Potter related events, I would be a very happy lady.”
While Woodland must wait for the results of Hall Olympics to be revealed by Residence Life, J.K. Rowling’s tale about a determined young boy proves to be one that has touched the hearts of many.