A Lovely Day for a Game of Quidditch

A student plays "keeper" and guards the goalposts.

Hogwarts week is over. Yesterday was the big finale, the annual Quidditch Match. The orange team and the white team came out in all their caped glory to fight it out for the Quidditch Cup

The referee and "The Golden Snitch"

Quidditch here in the "muggle" world is like a mixture of tag, dodge ball and ultimate Frisbee. You get points by tossing the Frisbee through the round goalposts but it you get hit with a "bludger" you have to turn the Frisbee over to the other team. All the while, a player wearing all yellow is running around as the snitch. Whoever tags him gets a lot of points and as I understand it most likely wins.


The game was pretty chaotic, but it was fun. I think the only way everyone could have looked sillier running around in their capes was if they actually had brooms between their legs. "That's how the hardcore people play" says Hannah Boresow one of the players for the orange team. Hannah's team took home the prize at the end of the game and their celebration could be heard throughout Collins.

Hogwarts week has come to a close, but I'm sure everyone at Collins will remember it fondly. Especially the members of the orange team who have secured their bragging rights until Hogwarts Week 2010 rolls around. I know I can't wait.

Students Spend A Week At Hogwarts

It's that's time of the year again, Hogwarts Week is here!! Once a year Collins turns into a magical place.The halls are decorated with banners for each of the "houses" and floating candles hang from the ceiling. The Edmonson Dinning Hall becomes "The Great Hall" and the laundry room turns into "The Chamber of Secrets".

Yesterday were the opening ceremonies. Students in costumes earned extra points for their "house". Which ever "house" has the most points at the end of the week wins the House Cup. There were wizarding robes and wands everywhere. Later that night there was a wand making workshop and a lecture on "ancient runes" (A linguistics professor talking about Harry Potter).


Opening ceremonies got the students for excited for the week. Which will include many Harry Potter themed events including a scavenger hunt, a wizard concert and on Saturday a game of Quidditch. Hogwarts Week is always a ton of fun. It almost makes you believe in magic.

Celebrate Halloween by Painting a Pumpkin

Students at Collins celebrated Halloween by dressing up and painting gourds and pumpkins. All day students walked around in their coustumes getting ready for the big night. There was a Halloween party in the coffee house during the day and it continued into the night. There pumpkin painting, hot cider and of course candy. It was a great way to hangout with fellow students and get in the festive mood. Plus, some of the costumes were hilarious like Marge Simpson and a space shuttle.

Victoria Secret Brings Cobra Starship and GirlTalk to Bloomington

The crowd during Cobra Starship at the B-Town Bash

On Thursday Victoria Secret had their B-Town Bash. Victoria Secret passed out tons of IU themed lounge wear from their "Pink" line. The concert was entirely free and I had great time dancing my heart out.

Setting up the stage Thursday afternoon

I saw them setting up the stage when I walked to class on Thursday morning. The stage was huge. It was definitely the biggest I have ever seen in Dunn Meadow. They were doing sound checks throughout the day which you could hear all over campus. I heard them in my dorm room and while I was in class. I was excited all day.

Waiting in line to play some of the games

Before the concert, we walked around and enjoyed all the games that Victoria Secret had set up. The event was like a mini carnival with games like corn hole and target practice. As well as a free photo booth and lots of prize giveaways.

In the crowd during Cobra Starship

Cobra Starship played first and got the crowd excited. By the time GirlTalk came out Dunn Meadow was packed and I could barely move. When GirlTalk started his set it started to rain, but that didn't dampen the atmosphere. Throughout his set the crowd was going crazy. He played 20 minutes over his allotted time and they finally had to kick him off the stage, while the crowd booed. When I got home my shoes were ruined from the rain and the mud. It was completely worth it.

The crowd went crazy for GirlTalk

Take a Break From Studying and Make a T-Shirt

Many people have been studying in preparation for midterms. On Sunday, I took break from my cram session to make a personalized t-shirt. There was a t-shirt making workshop in the Edmonson basement at Collins from 3-6p.m. Students used tye-dye, stencils, and fabric markers to design their very own t-shirts. Plus, they had cookies and pop music which always makes for a good time.

The workshop was a fun way to take a break. Still, school work beckoned as soon as the t-shirts were done. "I have to do homework while I wait for mine to dry" said my friend Anna. At least now we have cool shirts to wear to our group study sessions.

Company of Thieves Plays a Benefit Concert at The Bishop

On Thursday I went to see Company Of Thieves play at The Bishop. It was a benefit concert for The Timmy Foundation. Its mission is to promote sustainable health care initiatives in developing nations.

The Bishop, which is located on Walnut right off The Square, is a short walk from campus. However, it seemed like miles in the rain. I arrived wet, but ready to see a good show. There was a good turnout and the organizers of the event should have been very pleased. I had a great time dancing the night away for a good cause.

Students Prepare for The Big Game

Students at Collins Living Learning Center got geared up for the big game against Ohio State on Saturday. The students made signs, and banners to show their support for the Hoosiers. "They're going down!" proclaimed sophomore Danielle Though.

Junior Ryan Matthews grilled hot dogs and bratwursts for his fellow Collinsites. "Its fun that everyone meets up here before hand. It gives us a chance to hangout and get excited before the game." he said.

Collins provided the students with markers, paint and various supplies to make signs. "The best part was just thinking of what to write on them. We were cracking up all afternoon!" said sophomore Debby Iniech.

When some OSU fans walked by the students engaged in a friendly cheer-off. The students all chanted and spelled out IU with their arms. They easily overpowered the out-of-towners.

Unfortunately the Hoosiers lost on Saturday, but the crowd in Memorial Stadium was one of the biggest in the stadium's history. We didn't go home with the win, but IU students showed those Buckeyes who has the most spirit in the Big Ten!