Counted Out

Part of the 2026 Morrill Lecture Series: “A Revolution of Hope and Community,” this event features a screening and discussion of Counted Out. The documentary investigates the biggest crises of our time—political polarization, racial and economic inequity, the global pandemic, and climate change—through an unexpected lens: math.

In our current information economy, an invisible layer of math underwrites almost everything: the people we date, the news we see, the influence of our votes, and the education and jobs we can access. Whether we realize it or not, numeric literacy has become a critical determinant of social and economic power. Through a mosaic of personal stories, expert interviews, and real-world math transformations, Counted Out highlights what is at stake if we maintain the status quo.

The Morrill Lecture Series focuses on growing knowledge and critical thinking around complex national issues from a local, rural perspective, while highlighting community groups working to make a difference.