COMMENTARY

Students

"Reacting was completely unique in my college experience. In playing those games, the words of Gandhi, Socrates, and other historical figures became mine, transcending the academic distance to which I had grown accustomed and tapping into a very personal, intimate realm. Their thoughts, their histories, their biographies are real and alive in my mind." —Amanda Houle, Barnard '06, in "Reacting to 'Reacting'" (Change magazine)

"Even though it was so hard and took a lot of time and effort, it was amazing." —Ali Yehia Zakaria, American University in Cairo '10

"I've learned a lot more here than I've learned in history classes in the past." —Catherine Hay, University of Georgia '09

"History isn't just about dates and historical events, but most importantly, about the people, the ideas, the explorations, the quandaries, the downfalls and tragedies [all of which I am now] able to relate to the present. . . and isn't that what history is all about?" —Dayna Hardtman, Smith College '06

"You're not just reading the Republic and these other great works. You're living them." —Rachel Feinmark, Columbia College '05

 "This allows you to really take part in history. It's not you sitting there listening to your professor babble on. You actually get to do something . . ." —Samuel Zivin, Trinity College '07

 "After taking Reacting, I felt like I really understood why history happened the way it did, and the ways it could have turned out differently." —Ruth Crossman, Barnard College '06