The beginning of the end
By Elizabeth Vogel, Staff Writer -- vogel11@up.edu
For many UP students, tonight marks the beginning of the end of their childhoods. More so than moving out of your parents' house, tonight's premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One" is proof that childhood will soon be left behind.
To mark the occasion, some UP students did what college students do best: They threw a party. However, this was no ordinary party, as could be seen from the sign on the door that said, "Absolutely no Muggles Allowed."
The hosts had been planning this event since September.
"It's been in the works for awhile," junior Becca Otto said.
Many Harry Potter fans took the night off from homework to relive their childhoods by dressing up like witches and wizards and party like it was the death of Voldemort (except the Death Eaters and Slytherins, who were most likely mourning the defeat of their Dark Lord).
Junior Lizzy Carroll, a diehard Harry Potter fan, dressed up like Lavender Brown. She wore a pink "I Love Ron" T-shirt.
"I've read the books religiously," Carroll said. "I know that I read the seventh book five times within the first year it came out."
Junior Joe Starzl dressed as a Muggle with a message.
"There are a lot of social justice issues concerning Muggles," he said.
Despite his activism, Starzl is not against the wizarding world. He admitted that he would like to meet Hermione Granger if possible.
"I have a crush on her," he said.
Other students prefer characters for their bravery.
"Sirius was my favorite character. He's a badass," Otto said.
Everyone's favorite character was at the party. Dumbledore made an appearance in a pink hat and gold robes. Even Fawkes the Phoenix and the Sorting Hat were there.
Although many UP students are fans of Harry Potter, UP's Quidditch team has declined in popularity in the past year.
"We haven't really been organizing games because I wasn't sure about student interest," junior Monica Kendall said. "It kind of fizzled out last year."
Perhaps people are simply too busy for Quidditch, but many, like senior Erika O'Sullivan, are making time to go to the midnight release of the movie tonight.
"I've been a big HP fan and I've always waited in line for the books and the movies, so it's kind of a tradition," she said.
She is looking forward to watching the second to last Harry Potter movie.
"I'm excited that they're doing the last movie in two installments, because they'll be able to stay more true to the book," O'Sullivan said.
Carroll had the good fortune to see the movie on Monday and she shared her experience with The Beacon.
"I left the movie theater shaking," she said. "I was so happy with my movie-going experience this time around."
Ask anyone who came to the party or who is going to see the movie: Harry Potter is more than just a book series or movie, it is a magical world where many of this generation spent their childhoods.
"I think the world that J.K. Rowling created is one of the coolest things I ever read," Otto said.
Whether you go to the midnight premier of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One" or wait for it to come out on DVD, the meaning of the movie is the same.
"It's kind of like letting go of your childhood," Otto said. "I kind of don't want it to be over."
