Zoology senior Sam Kumming handles Ruckus, an Argentine Tegu, on Nov. 12, 2014, at the Natural Science Building during the Herpetology Club's meet and greet. Kumming said he will miss Ruckus as this is his last year at MSU. Dylan Vowell/The State News

It’s not too often you can run into alligators in a classroom building at MSU.

But Wednesday night in the Natural Science Building, members of the MSU Herpetology Club gathered with snakes on their shoulders and lizards in their hands.

Every semester, Herp Night invites people of all ages to interact with reptiles and amphibians of all kinds, from frogs to tortoises to — you guessed it — alligators.

Zoology junior Kristin Keeler said the purpose of the Herpetology Club is simply to share knowledge about these reptiles and amphibians.

“It’s a community on campus where people with reptiles and amphibians can come and show off their animals,” Keeler said.

Keeler said she enjoys getting the chance to teach people what it’s like to own a reptile and how cool they can be.

“This event is mainly to educate the public and share our animals with people who normally wouldn’t come into contact with them,” Keeler said.

Unfortunately, this common lack of contact results in widespread fear or a misunderstanding of reptiles and amphibians, Keeler said.

Forestry graduate student Danielle Miles said she hopes Herp Night will reduce fear of these animals in the community.

“So many (reptiles and amphibians) are killed every year out of fear when they don’t have to be,” Miles said.

Miles said she wants these animals to be conserved and appreciated the way she and other members of the Herpetology Club appreciate them.

That is animal science senior Christian Plumm’s favorite part — sharing her passion.

“I like that people get to see our pets and be a part of the things that we really enjoy,” Plumm said.

Many attendees who came to Herp Night didn’t have to have a herpetology background to appreciate the myriad of reptiles and amphibians that greeted them.

Rachel Atchison, a research technician in the plant biology department, said she came to the event simply because there was a chameleon on the flier.

“I used to have a chameleon when I was younger, so that’s why I was drawn to it,” Atchison said.