More like Hogwarts

There’s an oft-told joke that sometimes makes us nod and sometimes makes us cringe. You’ve heard it: This place is like Hogwarts.

This summer, it’ll feel more like a place of magic than usual as an organization called New World Magischola brings its brand of live-action role-playing, or larping, to our stately but warm halls.

For four days, science majors in research labs and kids coming for baseball camp will find themselves alongside up to 160 larpers in robes casting spells and walking to classes to study subjects like alchemy and magical creature care. The University serves only as host and is not otherwise affiliated with the event.

On their promotional page, organizers promise “a customized magical curriculum” that “will immerse you in the feel of becoming a wizard.” They’ve published a photo of the Weinstein International Center’s courtyard and silver globe with the caption “The New World Courtyard.”

Other promotional copy offers the possibility of “adventures to the Greek Amphitheater to meet a chimera” and five focused areas of study (artificery, healing, cursebreaking, cryptozoology, and “the path of the marshal”). Yes, there will be homework.

Sponsors launched a Kickstarter campaign in November hoping to raise $35,000 to get it going. As of late March, donors had given more than $300,000.

What explains this appeal?

“It’s more than just playing witch and wizard,” David Donaldson, UR’s operations and summer program coordinator, told The Collegian. “It’s a different way of learning.”

Indeed.