By REGINA IANNIZZOTTO
Opinion Editor
Math is one of the most feared words in the English language by students across the world. Math makes up so many aspects of our lives, and we do not even realize it. When we make change, draw pictures, and even when we move our arms; it all comes back to math. This is what the Museum of Math teaches its visitors, and what UMO, the Unified Mathematics Organization, is trying to show to the Saint Rose community.
UMO began this past semester from just an idea. They have taken their ideas and put them into action to create a club for the math lovers of Saint Rose. Founded by Danielle Heidcamp and Christopher Lovell, the club hopes to show that math is not that monster everyone makes it out to be, but instead something fun.
UMO took its first field trip to the corner of Fifth Ave. and 25th St. in New York City on Saturday. The Museum of Math, also known as MoMath, is a small, two floor museum that is interactive and fun for everyone; from ages 5 to 95. This was proven from the first exhibit seen upon entering – the bicycle and tricycle with square wheels on a wavy surface. This exhibit had an 8 year old and a 20 year old giving each other ‘the eyes’ to see who would get to the bikes first.
Every exhibit has a theme. There is a video fraction section, a geometric shape creation station, and an adding station, just to name a few. Every station is interactive and has a line of visitors waiting to challenge their minds.
Upstairs, you can create shapes and learn about the shape you created by pulling the planes apart and rotating it on the screen. At this station, Heidcamp said, “I feel like Steve Jobs.”
Overall, the thoughts on the trip were ‘It was a success.’ Jennifer Passage, club vice-president, said, “I think a lot of people got a lot of enjoyment out of the different manipulations that we were allowed to experiment with at the museum. It was very relevant considering in some of our math classes we’ve experimented with and have been taught information in regards to one of the original founders of MoMath.”
Passage’s five-year-old son, Ethan, who joined the group on the trip, said his favorite part was the bicycles. “They were fun and hard to move.”
UMO member Enedina Maya, who became involved with UMO after Heidcamp and Lovell made an announcement to her class, talked about how nice it was to see students getting involved and being interactive with the MoMath activities. When asked if she would go back, she said, “Maybe, possibly. It was fun, but it was only two floors and you can do it all in one day.” However, if UMO does another trip, she said she would definitely join in.
After the museum and the purchasing of UMO’s new stuffed mascot at the gift shop, the group was able to explore the city. Some went to a parade, some went to the Sixth Avenue Street Fair, some had lunch in the park across from the museum. Heidcamp could not contain her happiness from the day. “This has just been such a great day.”
UMO President Lovell was very happy with the outcome of UMO’s first trip. “I’m already trying to plan for next year and the museum is looking to expand so we’ll have a lot more to look at.” He is also trying to collaborate with the museum at Saint Rose. “I’m actually working on a large scale art display for the third floor of Albertus, which is where the math bulletin board is now.”
These are not UMO’s only plans. Heidcamp also discussed possibly creating a professional development trip with UMO for next year.
To find out more about UMO, check out their Facebook or their weekly column in the Opinion Section of The Chronicle. Their meetings are every Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Albertus.
