Discussion Free and Open to the Public Monday, April 16

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - March 30, 2012) - - - Whether viewed as engaging and positive or promoting Celtic magic and witchcraft, J.K. Rowling captivated a generation of children and their parents with the debut of Harry Potter. On Monday, April 16 at 6 p.m., Professors Dawn Sparks and Ramona Shelton will visit the Harry Potter phenomenon in Room 120 of the Waymon L. Hickman Building on the Columbia State Community College main campus.

Heralded by some as spurring adolescents to read, Sparks and Shelton also note changes the books and films reflect in adolescent literature, the Potter influence on other authors over the last decade and the commentary the Potter phenomena gives to the complicated coming of age among children today.

The discussion is free and opened to the public. Columbia State's main campus is at 1665 Hampshire Pike in Columbia.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

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