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Bludgers, broomsticks and a barbecue

- October 14, 2010

The Greek council is bringing Quidditch back to campus with a charity cup on Saturday. Leading the charge are Caitlin Reid, Harrison Makohoniuk and Meghan Peverill. (Nick Pearce Photo)

Sports trivia: what game includes positions like “beater” and “seeker,” balls called “quaffles” and “bludgers,” and is played entirely on broomsticks?

If you don’t know, better brush up on your Rowling. The answer is “Quidditch” - the imaginary wizard sport from the Harry Potter book series. And though ±«Óătv won’t be adding “Defence Against the Dark Arts” to their course list anytime soon (curses!), it will host a miniature Quidditch Cup come Saturday.

This won’t be the first time witch and wizard wannabes have descended on Wickwire field: an annual Quidditch match used to be staged by charity group One Moment. But since most of One Moment’s roster has graduated, Phi Delta Theta fraternity member Fahad Kabir (a One Moment co-founder) decided this year to enlist help from another source – ±«Óătv’s Greek Council.

“I’m still continuing the legacy,” says Fahad, who is now in his fifth year of combined honours in history and political science. “A significant portion of when we did it (before) was helped by the Greek community.” The Greek council includes sororities Alpha Gamma Delta, Iota Beta Chi and Omega Pi, plus fraternities Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. The money they raise will be donated to Shinerama, a Canadian student charity for cystic fibrosis.

Fahad, plus fellow Phi Delta Theta Harrison Makohoniuk and Alpha Gamma Delta representatives Caitlin Reid and Meghan Peverill , meet me in the Killam Library to explain the rules of Quidditch. “We have all the same positions they have in the books,” says Meghan. The game’s a little like soccer – three “chasers” on each team attempt to sink the “quaffle” into hoops guarded by the opposing team’s “keeper.” The action’s complicated by “beaters” throwing “bludgers” at their opponents, as well as the “golden snitch” – a fleet-footed individual chased by each team’s “seeker.” Catching the snitch ends the game, but seekers are slowed down by the fact that they (like everyone else) are obliged to travel via broomstick.
This does not daunt self-proclaimed “Quidditch virgin” Harrison, who, as well as organizing the teams, will head a lineup of his own – the Death Eaters. “We’re going to be awesome,” he says. “I think we’re going to go for matching brooms, too.”

Fahad plans to spend this year’s match on the sidelines – “I’m just watching the whole thing, hoping that nothing catches on fire.” Meghan and Caitlin have also eschewed bludgers and broomsticks, preferring to oversee the charity barbecue.

“We’re trying to obliterate some of the stereotypes that have to do with fraternities and sororities,” Fahad explains. “You assume frat boys and sorority girls don’t play Quidditch.”

Caitlin agrees: pop culture is creating serious misconceptions about Greek life. “I joined because I found out what we stood for... I wanted to get more involved in volunteering... (but) you say ‘hey, I’m in a sorority’ and they say ‘oh, you drink a lot.’” (In fact, the Phi Delta Theta house is alcohol-free, and the Greek council spends more time organizing charity events than socializing.) They’re also interested in strengthening ties with the university at large, and Quidditch won’t be an exclusively Greek event. “We’re trying to get not just Greeks involved in the teams,” says Caitlin.

Fahad agrees, then adds “We totally should put in a toga team, though.”

The Greek Council’s Quidditch game will be held on ±«Óătv’s Wickwire field on Saturday, October 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. Entrance is by donation.