LAFAYETTE TODAY
A Year at Hogwarts
Photography by David W. Coulter
Illustration By Elizabeth Taylor '06
Study abroad? Not exactly, but Jennifer Ziznewski ’06 did spend a lot of time this year with the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, setting of author J. K. Rowlings’ popular books about Harry Potter and his wand-wielding schoolmates.
Ziznewski wrote an honors thesis examining moral and ethical debates surrounding the books. “I posed the question, ‘Is Hogwarts breeding heathens?’” Ziznewski says. She concluded that, contrary to some views, the books are not a bad influence on children.
Ziznewski, an English and philosophy graduate, was guided by Bianca Falbo, assistant professor of
English. “We met frequently, and she was highly involved in both my research and my writing,” Ziznewski
says. “She was extremely helpful.”
Falbo says, “Any large exploratory project like this is useful in thinking through a problem, reading widely, and articulating your results. When you do that, you’re practicing your critical thinking skills, and for a career in law, like Jenny’s planning, those are good things to practice.”
“I couldn’t have asked for a more ideal situation than working on my project at Lafayette,” Ziznewski says. “Because so many members of the
departments work so closely with one another, many professors were familiar with the work I was doing, and I was able to seek their help.”
A Writing Associate, resident
adviser, and participant in volunteer
programs through the Landis Community Outreach Center, Ziznewski was invited this spring to join Phi Beta Kappa. She served on the College’s oversight committee
on sexual assault.
A member of Alpha Phi sorority
and Panhellenic Council, Ziznewski was inducted into the Order of Omega, which recognizes students within the Greek community for academic excellence, leadership ability, and extracurricular activities.
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