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Tuesday April 30th

Lecture brings Hogwarts magic to the College

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What college student's bookshelf is complete without a copy of one or more of the Harry Potter books? Ask any student at the College - if a student doesn't already own a copy of at least one of the books, he or she has probably read at least one if not more.

Harry Potter isn't limited to younger age groups. Adults have read J.K. Rowling's best-selling series, too. Allan Zola Kronzek, author of "The Sorcerer's Companion: A Guide to the Magical World of Harry Potter," is a Harry Potter fan and a bit of a wizard himself. He spoke last Friday night about Harry Potter and the legends, lore and myths from history that influenced Rowling. The extent of Kronzek's Potter-mania didn't stop there. He amazed and wowed the audience with various magic tricks at the presentation as well.

Kronzek said his first love is magic, and the ways it has changed throughout history. To inform others about it, he has been hosting programs at various schools throughout the New York area for years.

He said he was beginning a children's book about about magical origins when his daughter introduced him to the Harry Potter series.

"Everything I was talking about was right there," he said, and so he used Harry Potter in his books to help children relate to magic.

As far as the movies go, he likes "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" best. He feels that the first two movies reduced their respective books below their value while "Prisoner of Azkaban" is the only movie so far to stay true to its story.

Brandon Burke, freshman open options major in the school of Culture and Society, said he found Kronzek's lecture very interesting.

"He gave a lot of background information," Burke said. Although he's not a huge fan of the series, having read just the first two books, Burke said he's enjoyed all the movies.

Lisa Caputo, junior English major, organized the lecture for the College Union Board (CUB). A self-described Harry Potter "fanatic," she knew that there was an interest in Harry Potter on campus and held this event in anticipation of Halloween. Caputo said she felt Kronzek did a good job and he was a very informative speaker.

Although she's only read the first book, Regina Mahone, senior English major and director of CUB, also helped organize the event.

"I think that the Harry Potter fans enjoyed it," she said.




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