With 2007 comes not only a new year, but a much anticipated book release. The final book from the Harry Potter Series will be released next year, but students don’t have to wait to start discussing the new and old details.

The Harry Potter club is an official Recognized Student Organization on Eastern’s campus. It was founded in the 2005-06 school year. It has progressed from a small group of friends to more than 30 members.

The group like the Harry Potter series has four different head schools; House of Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Members are assigned a group based on their personality and talent, said Kristi Cagle one of the club’s co-vice presidents.

“So it’s more like a personality match,” she said.

House of Slytherin is for clever and cunning people, Cagle said. Hufflepuff is for friendly, loyal and humble people; Ravenclaw is for smart and witty, said Erin Lendabarker, club secretary. Gryffindor is the house of Harry Potter meaning “the house of the brave,” Cagle said.

Every Thursday evening at 8 in Coleman Hall Room 2140 members of the Harry Potter club come together and talk about different characters in the book, compare the movie to the book and play trivia games, Cagle said.

Other activities hosted by the Harry Potter club included a Halloween party.

This year on Oct. 27, the Harry Potter Club threw a party. They watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, had snacks that included special food from the Harry Potter series. They had a good turn out of 25 people, Cagle said. Tristan Sodergren-Barr one of the club co-vice presidents is very excited about the turnouts as well.

“The turn out is really exciting, I’m glad people are finding out about our organization despite our fliers being taken down,” he said. “It’s great to see people making an effort to seek out our club.”

They have bigger things planned next year including a Yule Ball that will take place Dec. 1, 2007. The club is waiting for funding from the university and will also begin fundraising for the Yule Ball.

Thursday the Harry Potter club will host a Christmas party at 8 p.m. in Coleman Hall Room 2140. The club enjoys seeing new faces; anyone who wants to come is welcome too, Cagle said.

If students would like to join the organization just come to the meeting at Coleman Hall on, or email them at eiuhpc@eiu.edu.

Voting member dues are $5 a semester or $8 a year. Non-voting membership is free. For further inquiry please visit their website at http://www.eiu.edu/eiuhpc/.