MIT Grad Blog

I’m surprised I haven’t been almost-run over by an MIT quidditch player by now. Can you imagine being the snitch?

http://tinyurl.com/muggle-quidditch

Excerpt from the article:

“So how exactly does one play the Muggle version of Quidditch? As in the book, each team has seven players, but earthly competitors must get used to the difficulty of running with a broom between their legs (as well as throwing and catching one-handed). There are three chasers who toss around a quaffle (a deflated volleyball) trying to score into three elevated (hula) hoops which the opposing keeper defends. Then, there are two beaters who throw bludgers (deflated dogdeballs) at opposing team members; if players are knocked down, they must drop any ball in hand and run around to their goal area and back to account for the time that would be lost in falling from the sky. Lastly, there is one seeker per team (the position of HP himself), whose job it is to catch the snitch, ending the game.

Now, this is where you’ll find earthbound Quidditch at its most creative: An actual person embodies the snitch, which is a malevolent, flying, golden ball in Rowling’s version. This player, typically a lanky and nimble cross-country runner clad head-to-toe in yellow garb, has full domain of the campus, darting on and off the playing field as he or she chooses. The snitch has arguably become the most humorous part of the game, making a point to taunt other players and pull off various hijinks come gameday. Snitches have been known to tackle, do handstands, climb onto dormitory balconies, go on bagel runs (only to return to the field and peg players with the breakfast food) and even jump into nearby ponds in order to evade seekers trying to snatch the tennis-ball-in-sock hanging from their backsides.”

Talks are ongoing to move the Gala to the Copley Marriott next year. It’s a pretty sweet location, plus the lobby area gives a lot of room for mingling and picture-taking. We’re pretty excited about it! Also: if you’re interested in being part of the planning committee for GradGala 2010, email gsc-ac@mit.edu. Woot.

Some time ago we held an event, and to help publicize it I stood in Lobby 10 handing out cookies with a card that has all the info. Unfortunately, that was the precise moment that a British boys’ soccer team walked by. My batch of cookies never had a chance, and I had to hand out cookie-less cards and flyers the rest of the morning. 

The lesson? Publicizing an event can be a lot of work, especially if you run into a pack of hungry teenagers.