By Abbagale Looney, Contributing Writer

The Geology Club is a group of South students that shares an affinity for rocks, environment, and food. The club meets on Mondays from 5 pm to 6 pm in the Life Sciences Building. The unassuming name does not reveal the variety of geological and casual conversation topics explored in the meetings. At the first Fall 2025 meeting on September 8th, a gorgeous quartz specimen was awarded to the lucky winner of the name drawing. This sample was obtained from Geo Club President, Matthew Prine’s personal collection. Attendees are granted an extra entry in the drawing for every meeting they attend, each time increasing their chances of winning. At this same meeting, food from Foosackly’s, along with cookies and beverages were provided for all in attendance. 

There is no requirement for members to have a major (or minor) in Geology to join, and all students are welcome to attend. The Geology Club seeks involvement with other campus groups, frequently encouraging students to help out with other environmental and communal goals. It also discusses resources helpful to South students. For example, during the first meeting, Jag Pantry was cited as a resource for students experiencing food insecurity and Career Development resources were discussed for preparing to enter the workforce. Overall, the meetings have a welcoming, supportive feel and would be a great club for any student to get involved in. Writer with The Vanguard, Abbagale Looney, had the opportunity to ask the devoted Geology club president a few questions:

Looney: What was it that made you want to take over the Geology Club?

Prine: The short version is that I was originally the club’s secretary, and when our previous president, Alyssa, stepped down, I took over just to finish out the semester. At that time, the club was really struggling with attendance and didn’t have much direction, so I made it a small passion project to bring it back to life and help it have a real presence and impact on campus again. This is only my second semester as president, and I’m still learning as I go—but that’s also what keeps me motivated. I like figuring things out, improving what’s already there, and seeing the club grow because of it.

Looney: What activities are planned for this semester’s meetings?

Prine: We’re trying something new this semester by having raffles at each meeting to keep things fun and engaging. For our main events, we’ll have our once-a-semester Rock Pet Painting Night, a Geology Trivia Night, and a Finals Movie Night with popcorn and candy mix-ins. Our upcoming meeting will feature Fossil Origami and Sedimentary Parfaits, which combine creativity with geology in a hands-on way. We’re also planning to collaborate with other Earth and Life Science clubs for Earth Science Week, and we may add a few more outings later on. Anyone interested can join our Geology Club GroupMe to stay updated.

Looney: What is something you’d like to tell people considering joining a club/the Geology Club?

Prine: As someone who runs a club, I can tell you it means so much when people simply show up. Clubs are a great way to meet other students with shared interests, unwind, and get involved on campus. In our case, geology club meetings are casual and welcoming—you can enjoy free food and drinks, enter a raffle, and even take home a free rock. But more broadly, joining any club is a great experience. If you ever get the chance to be an officer, it’s also an excellent résumé booster—I’ve been asked about it at my last three interviews. Most importantly, remember that clubs exist for students. They’re meant to be both relaxing and constructive, and if you go in with that mindset, you’ll genuinely enjoy being part of one.