Finding a place to relax can be difficult, amid demanding academic schedules, impending deadlines, and midterm stress. However, a group of students found a collective outlet to come together.
The Coloring Club is a student-run organization that aims to give students from all backgrounds a creative, stress-free activity.
Alana Tufaro, a freshman political science major and president, founded the organization. Coloring Club was SGA-approved in November 2024.
“After sitting on our phones for a few minutes, my friend noticed a coloring book in my drawer and said ‘Hey, could I color?’ and for the next two hours, the friend kept coloring,” Tufaro said.
She added that her friend’s interest only grew from there.
“She was focused, alert and happy. She was so proud whenever she finished a page,” Tufaro said. “Then for the next few months, my friend would come once a week and color in the dorm.”
Tufaro said she soon understood the impact clearing one’s mind can have on a person’s well-being. This is when she realized she should create a new club with the mission of creativity and wellness.
The club's leadership team includes: President Alanna Tufaro, Vice President Madeline Sterns, Treasurer Quinten Pace, Event Coordinators Mackenzie Senften and Keira Corcoran, and Head of Fundraising Lily Brueckmann.
“We got official approval from SGA in November of 2024 and have been working hard to establish ourselves within the Seton Hall community,” said Tufaro. “To accommodate all students, commuters, and residents, our meetings happen at nighttime and during the afternoon.”
Senften, a junior psychology and criminal justice major and one of the club’s event coordinators, said the club plans to do bi-weekly meetings starting in March, with one meeting being in the evening and the second during the day.
“We are using this model in order to cater to both commuters and Seton Hall residents,” Senften said.
The club believes in the connection between mental health and creativity. By providing a space for students to express themselves freely, the Coloring Club hopes to foster a supportive and uplifting community.
“We are planning to do biweekly meetings starting in March—one will be in the evening and the other during the day,” said Mackenzie Senften, a junior psychology major and one of the club’s event coordinators. “We are using this model in order to cater to both commuters and Seton Hall residents.”
Each meeting will have a unique focus. Some will be open coloring sessions where students can use a variety of materials such as crayons, colored pencils, and markers.
Other sessions will be more structured events, including painting tote bags and mugs. The club ensures that all supplies are provided, and calming music will be played at every gathering.
“We do want to remind members of the purpose of this club, which is to destress and unplug,” Senften said. “These meetings will be a phone-free environment, and we heavily encourage all participants to leave their phones at the door.”
For students seeking a creative outlet and a way to relax, the Seton Hall Coloring Club offers a welcoming and stress-free environment to express themselves, according to Pace, who is a freshman accounting major and treasurer.
“We want to create a welcoming environment where anyone, regardless of artistic ability, can come and express themselves freely,” Pace. “We encourage students to bring friends and meet new people”.
Students can follow the club on Instagram (@setonhall_coloringclub) or join Engage for event announcements and information about potential collaborations with other student organizations.
Jade Holmes is a writer for The Setonian’s Campus Life section. She can be reached at jade.holmes@student.shu.edu.
