Sunset Recreation Center becomes a Quidditch field in tournament for Hill residents
Quidditch Tournament and Festival
Saturday, 12 to 4 p.m.
Sunset Recreation Center, Upper Lawn
By Sarah Khan
Nov. 12, 2010 12:21 a.m.
The wizarding world of Harry Potter is prepared to take over Sunset Canyon Recreation Center on Saturday.
Student leaders of the De Neve Acacia-Birch resident hall are organizing a two-team Quidditch Tournament and Festival.
The event will be open to all Hill residents, and students who do not know how to play Quidditch can receive coaching from the UCLA Quidditch team, said James Luby, second-year anthropology student and primary program coordinator.
The event will also feature a costume contest, a book drive for students to donate unused books and a Quidditch scrimmaging field, where students who have not signed up for the tournament can still play the game.
While Quidditch in the Harry Potter series is played with the use of flying brooms and magic, the UCLA Quidditch team plays a version that is similar to a mix of rugby, basketball and water polo, Luby said.
“It actually is a real thing that can be played, and it’s fun to have anyone come and enjoy themselves on the field,” said Jeffrey Lin, member of the UCLA Quidditch team and second-year undeclared student.
The winning team of Hill residents will play the UCLA Quidditch team at the end of the Quidditch Tournament and Festival.
Although the event coincides with the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1″ next week, it is not intended to promote the new movie, said Derrick Chan, second-year biochemistry student and external vice president of De Neve Acacia-Birch.
Rather, the event is being organized to attract Hill residents who are fans of the Harry Potter series, as well as those who are interested in playing Quidditch, Chan said.
“We realized that there was a large population in the residence halls that liked Harry Potter. It was kind of a community tie between people,” Luby said.
Lin said he is looking forward to teaching students about Quidditch and how it is played.
“It’s fun to have people come out and learn about how fun the sport is, because a lot of people come in not knowing what Quidditch is,” he said.
