American University Professor Shocks Students With "Mind Reading" Magic

Kirsten Klohr (left) and Chloe Dechellis (right) watch as Barry Gordemer (center) guesses the first group’s card. Photo by Jaclyn Merica 

    Writing for Communication Professor Barry Gordemer, also known as the “Sort of Amazing Barry” performed one of his best “mind reading” magic tricks for his students at American University last Thursday, Oct. 2. He started by bringing out a stack of cards and pairing up students into five different groups. After shuffling the deck, he distributed five cards to each group. He told each group to choose one specific card. The “Sort of Amazing Barry” then turned his back as the groups chose their card. Once each group was ready, he asked them to shuffle up their cards and hand them back to him. Barry placed each set of cards on the table and told each group to look at the card they had picked. Barry

placed his hand over the first group’s cards. In less than a few seconds, Barry guessed their card. Everyone looked shocked and the whole classroom went silent. Next came the second group, in a matter of seconds Barry guessed “King of Diamonds” and was right again. When it came to the third group, Barry was stumped so he handed the group an envelope and decided to come back to them. Barry moved on to the fourth and fifth group and guessed their cards in as quickly as five seconds. Getting all the groups cards right so far he moved back to the third group and told the students to open up their envelope. When the group opened the envelope and saw their card inside, the whole classroom was in complete shock. The “Sort of Amazing Barry” mastered his trick. “I would still like to figure out how he did it!” Rebecca Berger said. “ It was very surreal, the camera translated the magic,” Jaclyn Merica said. Satisfied with his audience’s response, “The Sort of Amazing Barry” gave a final comment on his trick saying, “Peoples reactions are my favorite part!”