Manhattan School for Advanced Wizardry
From Namericanpotter
Contents |
Information
Location: Unknown; Entrance currently located at 18th Street Station
Founded: 1900
History: The Manhattan School for Advanced Wizardry is a relatively new facility, having just recently celebrated its centennial. Until its founding, there was only one other collegiate-level facility in the Northeast: The Weston Academy of Thaumaturgical Practices, founded in Boston soon after the American War for Independence. It was very conservative, with most of its student body being either pure-blooded or half-blooded. Wizard who came from more mundane homes were rarely admitted, and had to pursue scholling elsewhere.
However, in 1893 a Mastigos by the name of Helen Cowden returned to the United States after traveling the world and, having come to the decision that the Weston Academy collectively had much too large a stick up its ass, started the process of founding a school for those of 'lesser' birth. After spending five years planning and gathering like-minded individuals, Helen and her cabal (called the Manhattan Irregulars) created a Pocket Realm that would suit their needs. The Realm was anchored to the island itself, with a moving entrance that required an artifact to locate and pin down. Pleased with their work, the Irregulars took another two years to create the facility itself, then began gathering students. The Irregulars were the first administrative staff of the facility, with Helena as its first president.
The Manhattan Academy for Progressive Magics, as it was called at the time, was still second-fiddle to the Weston Academy for the first forty years or so of its existence. Its fortunes changed, however, after the founding of the United Nations. Struck with a bout of inspiration, Helen began sending letters to the various wizarding schools around the world. In 1946, the International Wizarding Exchange Program was begun, and the school shot into the international spotlight. This program, combined with its more progressive curriculum and wider student base, moved the Academy to the forefront of magical education in the Northeast, and in the United States as a whole.
In time, The Irregulars either retired from their positions or passed on, and other mages came onto the staff. In 1985, the name of the school changed to the Manhattan School for Advanced Wizardry. Cornelia Bowers, a Mysterium Mastigos and the current president, took the position that year, and has served in it since.
Administration
President: Cornelia Bowers - Mastigos
Vice President: David Hart - Thyrsus
Dean of Students: Nicole Thompson - Acanthus
Teaching Staff
At MSAW, students have access to various tutors for the ten separate Arcana. The teachers listed below are all Masters of their respective Arcanum, and are often at least Disciples in their other ruling Arcanum.
Death: Jerome 'Duster' Keating - Moros
Fate: Priscilla 'Calliope' Webber - Acanthus
Forces: Katherine 'Starfire' Archer - Obrimos
Life: Theresa 'Lucie' Harris - Thyrsus
Matter: Stephen 'Elric' Armstrong - Moros
Mind: Samuel 'Morpheus' Rhodes - Mastigos
Prime: Vincent 'Omega' Kincaid - Obrimos
Space: Caroline 'Farpoint' Baines - Mastigos
Spirit: Nathanial 'Umbra' Johnson - Thyrsus
Time: Jessica 'Amrita' Powers - Acanthus
Curriculum
Magical Studies
- General Classes
- Advanced Magical Theory
- Defensive Magics
- History of American Magic
- Magical Runes
- Urban Design and Geomancy
- Arcanum-specific classes
- Death: The Twilight of the Big Apple; Ghostly Etiquette
- Fate: Oaths and Oath-breakers; Luck: A Lady or A Tramp?
- Forces: Elemental Magics; Arcane Physics; Applications of Magic in Electronics
- Life: Medicine and Magic; Organic Transfiguration; Shaping the Body
- Matter: Advanced Metallurgy; Alchemy; Magic and the Industrial Arts
- Mind: Dreamscapes and the Astral Plane; Perception and Thought
- Prime: Study of Magical Artifacts; Places of Power
- Space: Apparition; Wards and Bans
- Spirit: Spirit Etiquette; Shadow Navigation
- Time: Watching the Flow of Time; Notable Time Paradoxes of the 20th Century
Mundane Studies
Thanks to a scholarship set up by the Department of Magical Education, students have the opportunity to earn a Bachelor's Degree at any of the mundane universities in New York City. Students are required to take language courses during their entire stay at MSAW. The courses may be taken either on MSAW's campus or at one of the mundane universities; French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Greek and Latin are offered on campus.
