Greater than numbers: Tarleton Math Club

BY CAROLINE CRAIN

News Editor

The Tarleton Math Club offers a space for students to study, socialize and share a love for problem-solving. 

The group meets every other week for events like homework nights and themed activities, then once a month for a game night in partnership with Tarleton’s radio station.

“Math club is a student body organization that's designed to increase appreciation for mathematics, awareness of mathematics and provide some amount of support for mathematics missions,” math club adviser Dr. Aria Dougherty said. “Generally, the idea is that math is a fundamental universal language; everybody knows some amount of math, and everybody thinks critically in their day-to-day. Math club is made up of people who really appreciate the symbolic representation of it.”

The club operates under Dougherty’s guidance, but its officers lead the way. They plan meetings, organize events and create a welcoming environment for students across all majors.

“When I came here, it was not doing what it’s doing now with all the homework nights and stuff,” Dougherty said. “At the time, it was a once-a-month meeting where we ordered lunch and had a research talk. It was very minimalistic and efficient, but it was more carried by the adviser than by the students. Now, it’s centered on the students, their voices, their passions, and it’s growing because of that.”

The officers of the math club—President Sadie Shudde, Vice President Raven Carino, Marketing Director Brenna Fesmire and Treasurer Emerson Scott—work together to balance academics with fun. They plan events designed to help members succeed in class while also building community and connections. Meetings are open to all students, there is no membership fee and food is provided at all events.

“College is hard, and it’s really sucky to do it by yourself. Sometimes it’s nice to have an event where you don’t have to think about your major or homework,” Shudde said. “Or if we are doing a homework night, you’re surrounded by other people who you can bounce ideas off of and just be in a community.”

Homework nights are one of the club’s most common events. Students come to work on schoolwork, hold each other accountable and build connections. 

“Even just homework nights help facilitate mingling between students,” Dougherty said. “Freshmen might be working on calculus homework next to sophomores doing Calculus III, and those connections form naturally. Sometimes we just need accountability buddies, people to sit with and say, ‘We’re kind of miserable together, but we’re getting it done.’”

Professors also attend every meeting to connect and help answer questions.

“I’ve enjoyed seeing some of the faculty show up because it’s nice to see them outside the classroom setting,” Fesmire said. “It’s like, okay, y’all aren’t too scary now, and I can ask you stuff about my homework.”

Not every meeting revolves around studying. Bingo nights, trivia competitions and other themed activities give students a chance to step away from their coursework while still connecting with fellow members.

“Bingo night is really fun because you can go spend two hours where it’s like, okay, I’ve studied for a really long time, and now I can do something that’s just fun,” Shudde said. “It’s a positive space to work and to take a break.”

Each month, the club partners with the campus radio station, 100.7 KXTR The Planet, for a game night in Math 125 that draws students from all majors.

“Seeing it actually run by students and seeing students want to engage is really refreshing,” Dougherty said. “There’s such a story of, ‘I hate math, I’m not a math person,’ but these students are proving that math can be fun and social, and that’s something professors love to see.”

Carino said the club has helped her break out of her comfort zone. 

“I’m very introverted, so making friends in class never happened,” Carino said. “But this forces me to talk to people and get involved.”

Scott added a simple, yet all-encompassing, outlook on why she joined the group.

“I was really excited to meet other people that love math and not be alone,” Scott said.

The math club continues to grow as more students discover the mix of learning and connection it offers. The officers hope to leave a lasting impact.

“I don’t want this to just be something we’re passionate about for one semester and then abandon,” Shudde said. “I want to build something that future officers can grow from, something that lasts.”

By blending academics, creativity and social connection, the math club has become more than just a study group, but a place where students find community and belonging.

For more information about Tarleton’s math club, visit their Instagram page @TarletonMathClub, or reach out to [email protected] or [email protected].