Oxford University Gets Gryffindor Common Room

The students at Oxford University, Magdalen College have given one of their common rooms a bit of the Harry Potter magic, for the Telegraph reports a motion has passed renaming the Magdalen College Junior Common Room ‘Gryffindor’ after the Hogwarts House. Zoe Tyndall, a student who voted in favor of the first name change on the room in its 550-year history, says “Magdalen College embodies the values of courage, daring, nerve and chivalry. These are the characteristics of the Gryffindor house in Harry Potter novels.” Similar campaigns are now being considered to rename three additional Common Rooms; Christ Church, St. Hughs and Merton; after the Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin Houses.

President-Elect of Magdalen Junior (now Gryffindor) Common Room, Tom Meakin, goes on to add about the following about the name change: “Magdalen does after all look a little bit like Hogwarts, and not to put any noses out of joint, but my Vice-President does look a little bit like Hagrid.” Six students opposed the measure.