There are some simple solutions to these two questions, and actually, they can be combined into one answer. I’m talking about going to campus events with the people you’ve met.

In your first few days, you’ll run into people in the halls while you’re moving everything into your new home and you’ll get acquainted with your roommates and suitemates. When classes start, you may start friendships with people in your classes. You could sit in your dorm and talk to get to know each other, or you can go to the various events around Ferris and have a fun time while getting to know these new people.

At many events, you’ll have time to talk to people. At Rockin’ in the Rankin, happening in the Rankin Center on Saturday night at 7 p.m., you will participate in various activities like playing games and making things like tie-dye t-shirts. When you’re doing these things, why not talk to the people around you? You can also do this while you’re waiting in line, which will also make the time go faster.

You may notice that some of the activities happening around campus involve you sitting in an audience and full attention is put on the person at the front of the room. I bet you’re wondering how you could get to know people better in these situations. You can mention comments about the event, and you’re likely to learn little things about these people around you by these statements.

Also, I’m sure you’ve heard that you can tell a lot about people by their body language. You can use this to learn about your new friends at these events. You can see what people are excited by, what they find boring, and what scares them to pieces.

An extra bonus? You’re likely to meet new people when you go to these events as well!

And another bonus is that while you’re attending these events, you’re getting a good look at the campus around you. Look at a map before you go to Williams Auditorium so you know what buildings you pass on the way. Notice the signs in front of the buildings as you pass by to get to know the names. Also, the building the event is in will be impacted in your mind. This is a fabulous way to learn your new territory without resorting to a map or an upperclassman’s directions.

While you’re walking to your events, you also have time to chat with the people you’re walking with. I discovered that I found out a lot about my future friends when we were just walking to class or to campus events.

All in all, the events Ferris holds aren’t just for entertainment. They’re a learning process and a way to get to know people better.

A list of events can be found at Ferris’ campus calendar: ferris.edu/htmls/news/calendar/calendar.cfm.

Justin Kredible Comes To Ferris 2007 Entertainer of the Year, Justin Kredible, will be performing at Ferris State University on Monday, August 27, 2007 at 7pm in the William Auditorium.

Willman has been practicing his art from the very early age of 13 in St. Louis when he broke both of his arms in a bicycle accident. Substituting magic as physical therapy, he began to learn new skills. Willman really started applying his trade during his time at Boston’s Emerson College. He was appearing at 30 celebrations a month while still taking classes. Now he’s a 27 year old comic/magician with a Bachelor’s in broadcast journalism, as well as being called the top entertainer in Las Vegas, averaging 300 shows a year in venues from colleges to birthday parties.

Willman has been featured on the Rachel Ray show numerous times as well as The Today Show, MTV’s new show Room 401, The Dennis Miller Show, and Gilmore Girls. In Room 401, Willman is one of several magicians who play hidden camera tricks on unsuspecting victims. Cingular and HP have had him in commercials advertising their products and his act has won him the 2007 Entertainer of the Year award. Willman is currently on a tour of 62 cities in 25 states which will bring him to Big Rapids and Ferris State on Aug. 27.

Willman’s stage show blends magic with comedy to create a positively entertaining show. Whether he is making cards appear within grapefruits, coughing up decks of cards, or turning a handkerchief into a wand, he is sure to impress. While he is doing these tricks he has the air of an excited child who can’t wait to show you the next thing he’s discovered. Willman might even be willing to show how he does a few simple tricks to give you some ice breakers at parties.

Tickets for this event are free because of money from the Student Activity Fund. The show will start at 7 pm on Monday, Aug. 27, and run about an hour and a half.

No matter what your predisposition is towards magic, this show promises to be a lot of fun and a good way to start this semester. After all, the entire show will be free so you don’t have to go digging through the couch cushions for change just yet. For more information on Justin Kredible and his show

visit justinkredible.com or myspace at www.myspace.com/kreds.

The series will be kicked off on Oct. 2 with a stage adaptation of the popular novel “1984,” by George Orwell. Following that will be the Celtic musical group, “Boys of the Lough,” who will be performing on Nov. 30. For the spring semester the “Jump Rhythm Jazz Project,” will get things started on Feb. 9. “Andes Manta,” a South American music group, will conclude the series on April 19.

All of the events will take place at the G. Mennen Williams Auditorium. Student tickets for individual events are $8 with ID. For tickets to all four events it is $32. For regular adult pricing please see the Live at Williams! website at Ferris.edu/arts/Williamslive.htm.

The Actor’s Gang will be performing the play “1984,” directed by Tim Robbins. It is based on George Orwell’s dystopian book about a totalitarian communistic regime that controls the very thoughts and actions of all the citizens of Oceania. The government manipulates the public into thinking that “Big Brother” is their savior from the evil Goldstein, the revolutionary rebel. The show begins at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2. Tickets are on sale now.

Here is an excerpt from the synopsis of the play, “Imagine a world where people fear that their opinion cannot be expressed freely, where leaders are not held accountable for their deceptions, where perpetual war is waged against an unseen enemy; a world where Ignorance is Strength, Freedom is Slavery, and War is Peace.”

“One of the finest bands in Celtic traditional music,” describes the New York Times. “Boys of the Lough,” will be taking the stage on November 30, at 8 p.m.

“The Boys of the Lough have established a reputation for recognized technical brilliance and integrity in the performance of Irish and Scottish music,” states their website.

Boys of the Lough have completed over 60 tours of the United States and are one of the biggest names in traditional music on the international level. The band consists of five members and a slew of diverse instruments. Dave Richardson plays the mandoline, cittern, English concertina, button accordion, and is a composer. Kevin Henderson takes up the fiddle and specializes in Shetland music. Cathal McConnell plays the flute, whistle, and sings vocals. He founded the group and is one of the most renowned and respected flute and vocalists in Irish traditional music. Brendan Begley plays the button accordion, melodeon, and vocals. He is a well known and accomplished performer from County Kerry, Ireland. Malcolm Stiit, the youngest in the band, plays the guitar. Despite his age he is one of Scotland’s most admired traditional artists. It is hailed to be a performance by what “Irish World” magazine describes as traditional heroes.

The “Jump, Rhythm, Jazz Project,” will be kicking off the spring semester on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. The group features “exuberant” dancers, “syncopated” rhythms, and “percussive musicality.”

“Since its founding by artistic director Billy Siegenfeld in 1990, the company has thrilled audiences and students nationally and internationally with its rich blend of percussive musicality and emotion-charged dance theatre,” their website said.

The last event of the series features the South American musical group, “Andes Manta.” Andes Manta is another traditional music group with a focus on the cultural roots of South American music. They will be performing on April 19 at 8 p.m.

“Although we know that Andean music has been played in South America for thousands of years, its beginnings have been lost in the mists of time. Just as the true origins of the native peoples of the Americas continue to elude us, the first players of this wonderful musical tradition remain an enigma,” claims the Andes Manta website.

Andes Manta strives to keep the tradition going and hopes their audiences will be enriched by their performance.

Live at Williams! is sponsored by Yellow Book USA. For more information or if special accommodations are needed to attend any of these events, please contact the Williams Auditorium box office at 591-5600.

Harry Potter The final Harry Potter book in the series came out on July 21. However, another Harry Potter book may be in the works. Photo By James O'Gorman, Editor in Chief

“J.K. Rowling told Today’s Meredith Vieira she ‘probably will’ publish a Potter encyclopedia, promising many more details about her beloved characters and the fate of the wizarding world beyond the few clues provided in the seventh book’s epilogue,” said the MSNBC online article.

Rowling stated that she supposes this had been started some time ago. She says that she has had a lot of information about characters saved in the notes she made while writing the now famous books.

The MSNBC article said that the encyclopedia will include back stories from the characters. One character that Rowling said will be featured is Dean Thomas, one of Harry’s fellow Gryffindors.

“I’ve said before that Dean Thomas had a much more interesting history than ever appeared in the books,” stated Rowling in the interview.

Rowling has said that she knows that her fans will not ever be truly satisfied; many wish for this series to continue on for as long as they can. However, Rowling says that she’s okay with these devoted fans.

“I love it. I’m all for it,” Rowling said.

No talk of continuing stories in the series have been made. Currently, Rowling plans to stick the previous statement that there will only be seven books in the series. However, she left it open in case she ever had the desire to return to writing about the magical community.

In a quote from MSNBC, Rowling was looking for a “nebulous” and “poetic” ending, but make it so people were sort of unable to see exactly what was happening.

“She wanted the readers to feel as if they were looking at Platform 9¾ through the mist,” said Jen Brown, writer of the MSNBC article.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” was released at 12:01 on July 21. Mugglenet.com reports that the final book in the series sold nearly 11.5 million copies in the first ten days of release, breaking the old record previously set by the sixth book, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”