Similar to the wizards in Harry Potter, the students in Auburn's Harry Potter AUror Alliance swoop in to save the day through the magic of service.
Auburn's chapter of the HP AUrors Alliance serve the University as a club dedicated to volunteering, fundraising and serving Auburn.
According to the group's motto, the club strives to destroy real-world horcruxes such as inequality, illiteracy and human rights violations.
Anyone familiar with the series can recognize the group's goal to promote goodness on campus in all ways possible.
Some of the groups events and programs are, of course, following the Harry Potter and wizarding theme.
The group hosted the Free the Elves clothing drives, Accio Books book drive, Yule Ball and many other events geared toward helping others.
Brittany Dennis, senior in english and creative writing, serves as president of the club after serving two years as vice president.
Dennis started the group with some friends in 2011.
Dennis said this year has been a huge rebuilding year for the club, adding new members and new leadership.
"Both of us grew up on Harry Potter, and we knew about the great work HPA was doing nationally and internationally so we started the group from the bottom up," Dennis said. "We quickly had a gathering of people who wanted to reach out through service, but also wanted to have that shared love of these books and movies to bond over."
The group functions with the help of Anna Bertolet, associate professor in the department of English.
"We were incredibly lucky to find Dr. Bertolet to be our adviser," Dennis said. "From our first meeting, she was excited and willing to do everything she could to help."
Melissa Darce is a senior in psychology and also a member of HPA. Darce became a member in spring of 2012.
"I joined because I had previously been a secretary of service for two other clubs, and I was looking for another outlet of service," Darce said. "I knew the passion for Harry Potter across Auburn's campus would transcend to service projects."
Darce described the club as a larger group of young adults striving to use their passion for Harry Potter and transfer it into service and active discussion of themes and lessons from the series.
The group has participated in Harry Potter-themed craft night, game nights, movie nights and parties, all in the spirit of bonding over a shared love of a series.
Rebecca Schrenk, senior in German international trade, said she joined as a "ridicuously excited charter member."
Schrenk served as the first secretary of membership for the Auburn chapter, setting up craft nights making quills and wands and even a sorting ceremony.
"My favorite part of the group was participating in 'Hunger is not a Game,'" Schrenk said. "All HPA chapters took part in the can drive during the weekend the Hunger Games movie was released."
Dennis said she believed it was necessary for the chapter to take time out of college to relax and, "let's be honest, just be nerds."
Darce also said she enjoys both the outreach efforts and the social aspects of the club.
"Basically, I joined for the active participation of a service organization," Darce said. "I've stayed as long as I have because of the awesome people."
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