Prof's potion enlightens

Meredith class mixes Harry Potter and sociology

You don't have to zoom your broomstick to Hogwarts Academy to learn a little something about the way of the wizard world.

Try Meredith Magic.

Seventy-two students at Meredith College are delving into sociology by studying all things Harry Potter. The unorthodox course is called "Muggle vs. the Wizarding World: Examining Sociological Ideas in the Stories of Harry Potter."

The professor, Lori Brown, got the idea from her daughter, whom she describes as a Harry Potter fanatic.

Turns out that J.K. Rowling's fictional series is a perfect jumping-off point for the exploration of big ideas such as race, gender, social status and family relationships, Brown discovered.

"It's a very powerful way to bring people in," she said.

Her students are beyond enthusiastic. Class attendance is nearly perfect. Students have posted hundreds of messages on the online discussion board. Most of the class planned a midnight field trip to Exploris to see the new Harry Potter movie, which opens today.

"I'm just blown away," Brown says. "I'm amazed at how much students get out of this."

The outline includes topics such as "The Civic Leadership of Harry Potter: Agency, Ritual and Schooling," "A Skewed Reflection: The Nature of Evil" and "Class and Socioeconomic Identity in Harry Potter's England."

Brown says the stories are rich with complex issues such as ambition, moral development and social justice. "Much of Harry Potter is empowering people to fight when things are wrong."

Nicole Boucher, a sophomore from Raleigh, registered for sociology last spring without knowing what mysterious mischief lay ahead. During the summer, she read every book in the series, and now she's hooked.

"We talk about societal needs, stratification," she says. "Everything you could think of with sociology, it ties in to Harry Potter somehow."

Her favorite character is Hermione Granger.

"I think it's so great that she's so brilliant and she's a girl," Boucher says. "It's great she can kick everyone's butt when it comes to school. I love it."