Hedbanz Fun at History Club
By Mario Bordenga
Ever played Hedbanz as a kid? Try playing it again—this time, with historical figures. In the Humanities building, the History Club held its first Hedbanz: Historical Edition event.
At 7 p.m., 11 members, including club president Percy Fisher and club treasurer Chaya Kurson, gathered to try and have a go at this unique new take on the classic childhood guessing game. Once seated, each participant got a makeshift card featuring a prominent historical figure on it and held it against their forehead, mimicking a headband.
Participants would take turns asking various questions to identify their assigned figures, such as “Am I dead or alive?” “Was I a U.S. president?” and “Was I good or evil?” The cards, which were made primarily out of cardboard from an old chip box, featured many prominent historical figures from various eras.
The History Club at Purchase had first been founded six years prior to this event and then went dormant for a couple of years before club President Fisher revived it. Fisher, who is a history major, was encouraged to start the club up again by Professor Lisa Keller. There was some challenge in getting the club to gain traction due to Purchase’s history program being quite small, but it eventually was able to gain momentum as more members began to join.
During one of their first meetings after the revival, members discussed events that they would like to host. One club member suggested an event featuring Hedbanz that would test participants’ knowledge regarding various historical figures. Upon hearing the idea, Fisher said, “I thought Hedbanz would be a good way to get students in history because Hedbanz is a popular, fun, and social game. I think combining games with history is a good way to show how ubiquitous history is and that it can be fun for everyone.”
Of course, some preparation was necessary before the event could take place. Since Hedbanz does not usually focus on history, club members compromised by crafting their own version of the game from scratch. Kurson helped to make the historical figure cards and to organize the room in a way that would meet the needs of the activity. During the process, she made sure to include figures that would be easy for people to guess, as well as some more obscure ones that would help them learn something new.
“It was pretty easy to prepare. We printed out images on the computer and glued them to old cardboard,” Kurson said. Kurson also said that she believes the event went fairly well, with participants expressing great interest in the figures that were included and showing appreciation for those who chose to participate. She said she looks forward to hosting similar events in the near future.
The event continued well past its scheduled 8 p.m. end time as participants continued to ask questions that sparked discussion. They would go on to share their thoughts on the experience. Alexander Carbo, a regular member of the club and history major, was enthusiastic about the event’s whole concept and was an active participant throughout the entire event. When asked why he decided to attend the event, Carbo said, “I’m a senior and don’t have much time left to do things around campus.”
Clover Lallier, a creative writing major and first-time member, also described the sense of enjoyment and inclusion she experienced at this event. Lallier said she was simply looking for something to do when her fellow classmates recommended the club. She decided to attend and participate in the Hedbanz event.
Besides enjoying the initial event, Lallier said that this event helped her learn more about the roles that women could play during the Middle Ages by portraying Joan of Arc during the first round.
With this event ending beyond its scheduled time, the History Club’s Hedbanz: History Edition drew in many new faces to the club and offered an engaging way for members to communicate with one another and explore history together. Anyone who wishes to attend the History Club’s next meeting can find the club every Thursday in Humanities 1040 from 7 to 8 p.m.
Fisher said, “I hope the club will gain new members. I also hope that we can have collaborations with other clubs, as I think that would be a good way to spread interest and meet new people and potential members.”
Comments