By Rita Skeeter

Photo by Richie Kidman | The Scoffayette

International recruit Colin Creevey will be one of the first recipients of a Lafayette Quidditch scholarship.

The scholarship era has taken flight.

Lafayette and the Patriot League announced that merit-based Quidditch scholarships would be awarded beginning with the class of 2017.

The Board of Trustees and Student Government approved $1.3 million in scholarship money for the Quidditch team and the construction of a $97 million pitch. All recruits will be given the latest broom model fromswiffer.

“We are very excited to take the Quidditch team to the next level,” Director of Lafayette Quidditch Operations Oliver Wood said. “With the new scholarship money and facilities, Lafayette is a position to become one of the premier Quidditch powerhouses in the world.”

According to Head Coach Thomas Riddle, the scholarship money allows him to delve into deep talent pools abroad.

Headlining the international recruits is Colin Creevey, a 5-foot-2, 90-pound seeker out of London’s Westminister School. He led the English Preparatory League in snitch catches before suffering a season-ending back injury from a rogue bludger last season.

“We questioned Creevey’s durability coming in, but we feel he has the size and strength to be an effective seeker,” Riddle said.

Critics of the new scholarships dislike the idea of offering money to players with sub-par high school academic records.

“A keeper’s GPA better be as good as his save percentage if he wants to play at Lafayette,” Board of Trustees member Sturgis Podmore said.

The new Quidditch pitch is expected to be completed by Fall 2013. A dress code inside the pitch will be instituted, requiring spectators to wear dress robes and conical hats. Though refreshments, including chocolate frogs and BertieBott’s Every Flavor Beans, will be sold at games, there will be a strict prohibition on Butter Beer and Firewhiskey. Security will also be checking bags for concealed wands, in order to ensure a fair match.

Lafayette will open its season at home against Lehigh October 3.