We're Not Too Old For Harry Potter, Okay?

Remember when we told you that Houston was getting all Harry Potterized for finals? Well, in that post we linked to a New York Times op-ed written by Lauren Edelson, this high school senior from Portland who totally hates how college tour guides always compare their campuses to Hogwarts. After all, she says, Harry Potter is just so high school.

Lo and behold, this really pissed some people off! Today the Times printed three (!) letters to the editor regarding this piece (which is called "Taking the Magic Out of College," by the way). And imagine our delight when we realized that one of these letters was written by two Penn students, Isaac Setton and Ariela Rosenberg. Basically, they're all, "Pshhhh — you don't know what's up, Lauren Edelson! College kids love HPizz!" Read their letter after the jump.

To the Editor:

As students at the University of Pennsylvania, we take issue with Lauren Edelson’s attack on Ivy League and partner institutions’ Harry Potter marketing. The proclivity toward such advertising tools is simply a reflection of the student body’s interests that is then used in recruitment.

College students — not only high school students — still love Harry Potter, as highlighted by the fact that University of Pennsylvania students organized a Harry Potter fair recently. Her examples are representative of university students expressing their interests, not a nationwide university recruitment strategy.

This is something to praise, not chastise. Harry Potter is one of many symbols that are common throughout recruitment, and it is a powerful one that resonates with all people, especially those who grew up with Harry.

The important issue is that students at these institutions are capable and encouraged to express their interests in different ways, and this should be applauded.

Isaac Setton Ariela Rosenberg Philadelphia, Dec. 6, 2009