By Paulina Gajewski
On Thursday, March 13, the Brooklyn College Mathematics Club turned an Ingersoll lecture hall into a pie fest. Pi Day, annually celebrated on March 14, is a day dedicated to the mathematical constant “pi”, which comes to approximately 3.14, hence the date. Co-hosted by the Office of the Dean of the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, the Math Club took this as an opportunity to gather math enthusiasts and spend the day with festivities akin to pi: a pie-eating contest, circle drawing contest, pi haiku, and a pi memory competition.
“Pi Day is a long-standing tradition that we celebrate every year around March 14 (3/14) to highlight the significance of math in everyday life,” Lise Augustin, president of the Math Club, told The Vanguard. “It’s consistently one of the most well-attended and appreciated events of the year.”
Pi Day was first celebrated in the U.S. in 1988. Physicist Larry Shaw, an employee of a science museum in San Francisco, The Exploratorium, is credited with the first official or large-scale celebration. In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution recognizing March 14 as Pi Day. The event at BC offered a series of activities that, since 1988, have been commonly associated with the day.
“At the Pi Day event, we had fun activities like trivia games, math puzzles, and, of course, pie-eating contests,” Albert Ortiz, event coordinator for the Math Club, told The Vanguard. “My favorite part was seeing students from various majors come together and engage with math in a lighthearted and creative way.”
Club leaders mentioned that since their celebration last year, the event has significantly grown, along with interest in the Math Club.
“The turnout of 110-120 students, compared to 70 last year, was definitely a highlight and a testament to the growing interest in our club,” Ortiz stated.
This sentiment was echoed by Augustin. Since last year’s event, they’ve increased the activities held during the event.
“[…] we’ve hosted Pi Day in the past, but this year’s event saw significant growth. Last year, we had around 70 participants; this time, we welcomed over 100, closer to 120 […] We also introduced more interactive games, increased the number of prizes, and added a dedicated photo section with professional photographers, enhancing the overall experience,” she told The Vanguard.
Students across different majors were more than welcome to attend. The club hopes to expand their network to a variety of departments.
“Even if you don’t like or know any math, there’s always the chance to build your network by talking to other students,” stated Rebecca Turay, senior and chemistry major at BC. “In my opinion, that’s always great because it can be difficult getting connected to others since we go to a commuter school.”
The club also aims to hold collaborative events with other groups on campus to engage broader communities. This was evident in the help the club received from the Office of the Dean, faculty from the math department, the Chemistry Society, and the Women’s Center.
“The math club offers a variety of events designed to be accessible and engaging for students of all majors,” Augustin stated. “We organize interdisciplinary events, including collaborations with the [Computer Science] Club and the Chemistry Society, and in the past, we’ve worked with the Classics Society as well. These events highlight the connections between mathematics and other disciplines, making them appealing to a broader audience.”
This event is just one of many the Math Club hosts per semester. Their mission is to provide a space for students to take part in a broader community but also increase their support in the professional realm.
“The Math Club provides students with the resources, support, and community needed to succeed in their mathematical journeys. We host talks led by professors and a colloquium by distinguished math professors outside of BC, where they also share about research opportunities,” Augustin stated. “We also hold an annual career panel where alumni and industry professionals discuss the various career paths available to those with a math degree. This event helps students explore opportunities beyond academia, gain real-world advice, and build connections with professionals in the field.”
The club is currently working on many initiatives this semester to expand their support. This also includes a physical lounge space for members of the club to have.
“Our top priority is completing the furnishing of the math lounge so it can officially open for students. We have several upcoming events planned for the remainder of the semester,” Augustin stated. “One of our biggest milestones is reactivating the Pi Mu Epsilon chapter at Brooklyn College after more than 40 years, with our induction ceremony set for March 27.”
This event provided an avenue for students who may not be math majors to get involved with the club. Many students may have an aversion to the subject, but the club offers opportunities for that demographic as well.
“We wanted to celebrate Pi Day as a way to make math more approachable and enjoyable for all students, not just math majors,” Ortiz stated. “It’s a great opportunity to break down stereotypes about math being difficult or boring and to show its fun and engaging side.”
Students interested in upcoming events from the BC Mathematics Club can check their Instagram, @bcmathematicsclub