The year was 1997. Many incoming freshmen, now 18, would have been only four or five years old.
In those days, Michael Jordan ruled the basketball courts, Bill Clinton ruled America and the fastest Internet speed was dial-up. In those days, the popularity of children's literature was dying out. Reading books for fun? As if!
Few would have foreseen that over the course of 10 years, the story of the Boy Who Lived would hold multiple generations spellbound for years to come.
And it all started with a single book, only 309 pages long, about a messy-haired bespectacled boy who learned on his eleventh birthday that he was a wizard.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was released June 30, 1997 in the United Kingdom and Sept. 1, 1998 in the United States (retitled Sorcerer's Stone for American audiences).
According to Internet Movie Database, when the film of the first book was released Nov. 16, 2001 in the U.S., it set the record of opening on 3,762 screens, more than any other films at the time.
And now, 10 years and seven movies later, the final film of the series will be released at midnight in theaters that have been sold out for weeks.
Fans know the stories by heart, and most know how the epic finale will end, but the movie and the franchise have an allure they can't stay away from.
Haley Bridges, junior in English, said she began reading the series in fourth grade.
"I love how detailed everything in the series is," Bridges said. "Rowling did an incredible job of really building each character to their fullest, layer by layer, which let the reader relate in a way that I personally never had before with books."
Part of that connection is thanks how relatable the characters are, Bridges said.
"It felt as if we really knew these people; we understood their quirks and secrets," Bridges said. "Because of that, it provided readers with this indescribable connection to each character. We grew up with them, no question about it."
Amanda Wilson, industrial design alumna, said she loves the series because of its broad appeal to multiple generations.
"I love this book series simply because it is so original and so well-written that it adapts to any reader, whether five or 50 years old," Wilson said.
Bradley Seymore, sophomore in radio, television and film, said he also was introduced to Harry Potter in elementary school when his fifth-grade teacher shared the first book with the classroom.
"The best thing about the book series is that when you read the books, it just takes you away from all your troubles and responsibilities and into this world that sometimes I wanted to be in myself," Seymore said.
Olivia Dean, industrial design alumna, said she got into the series after the first movie came out. When she saw the movie, Dean said, she was immediately interested in reading the books.
"After the movie came out on DVD, I must have watched it a dozen times," Dean said. "And I've read the first three books at least six times. I know, nerdy."
Dean said she is sad everything is coming to an end, but she has definitely enjoyed every minute.
"I'm lucky to have grown up with Harry Potter," Dean said.
All four said they will definitely be there Thursday night for their last Harry Potter movie premiere.
"I've gone to all the movie premieres since the fourth movie," Dean said. "And yes, I will be going to the one this Thursday with a lightning bolt on my forehead and plastic glasses on my nose."
Seymore said he has gone to the see the midnight premieres for the last two movies, and he bought his ticket for the final one weeks ago.
"This series has been around a long time, and it's been 10 years since the first movie came out so I'm definitely a little bummed that this is the last one," Seymore said. "But I still have all the movies to watch and the books too, so I'll never stop being a fan of them."
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