From left to right: Elizabeth Foley, Iris Archer, Leah McElheny and Clair Fisher
Photo Courtesy: St. Bonaventure University
BY: MORGAN KILGER, NEWS EDITOR
Elizabeth Foley, a junior strategic communications major, and her fellow St. Bonaventure University students gathered in the quad on campus to watch the first solar eclipse in western New York.
At the first glimpse of totality, the Bonaventure community erupted into a cheer. According to Foley, this was her favorite moment of the gathering.
“My favorite [memory] was when it all went dark, and the quad erupted in a cheer!” said Foley.
Roughly two to three solar eclipses occur every year—and they occur every 12 years in the United States. This year, Bonaventure was in the path of the eclipse on Monday, April 8.
Students and staff were given an opportunity to watch the eclipse on campus from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in between Plassmann Hall and University Ministries. Some people went to surrounding areas to watch the eclipse as well.
Alice Miller Nation, director of University Ministries at Bonaventure, was one of the minds behind the eclipse watch party. Miller Nation, alongside Tom Buttafaro, director of government and community relations, and Rob DeFazio, associate dean for student life, put together the party to mark this historic event.
“It’s a way to bring us together,” said Miller Nation. “And to mark it.”
According to Miller Nation, this was one of the easiest events she had planned. She said it was easy because three departments came together and everything fell into place.
“It was just the best of three different departments coming together and sharing resources, sharing energy and cooperation,” said Miller Nation.
To prepare for the event, Miller Nation made sure there were snacks for students to enjoy. Sun Chips, Moon Pies, Milky Way bars, and Starburst were handed out. Alongside the pre-packaged snacks, Aramark made a special order of half-moon cookies—something that Bonaventure’s pastry chef usually doesn’t make.
“She usually doesn’t do those,” said Miller Nation. “She practiced them a week ago, just to make sure she had it right for the students.”
Aside from the food, t-shirts and eclipse glasses were handed out to the students. Jenna Keppel, assistant director for student activities, programming and engagement, also provided music for the event.
“They put on the eclipse playlist, and it was just perfect,” said Miller Nation.
The inspiration for the watch party came from Miller Nation’s concern for student safety during the eclipse. Miller Nation believes that if students were provided with glasses, they would be safe during the eclipse.
“We want to make sure our students are safe,” said Miller Nation. “By hosting an event and having glasses to hand out, it make it easy for our students to be safe.
Miller Nation’s expectations for the event were blown away when she saw how many students appeared in the quad Monday afternoon and stayed for the eclipse. She expected students to grab their glasses and leave to go elsewhere.
However, the opposite happened.
Students started grabbing snacks and blankets to set up in the quad for the eclipse. Miller Nation was shocked and grateful that students were together for this event.
“I didn’t know if students would come get their t-shirts and glasses and go somewhere else,” said Miller Nation. “When I started seeing blankets being put out on the lawn, it warmed my heart.”
About 500 students attended the eclipse watch party. Foley was one of the attendees. Foley was grateful for the opportunity to experience the eclipse with her peers.
Despite the cloudy weather, Foley described her experience as a core memory for her.
“It was a very exciting experience. Being able to watch [the eclipse] with the whole school was historic,” said Foley. “It will be a core memory for me and a lot of people.”
Foley watched this historic event unfold with her friends and roommates. Foley said watching the eclipse with her friends was a great time.
“It was a great time being able to watch this moment happen with my friends,” said Foley.
Abby Farber, a sophomore sports media major, watched the eclipse off-campus. Farber gazed at the eclipse from the Seneca Valley Casino — 14 miles away from Bonaventure.
The Seneca Valley Casino held an event similar to Bonaventure. According to Farber, it featured live music, food trucks, games, eclipse glasses and T-shirts.
Farber attended the event with her father, two of her close friends from softball at Bonaventure, and a close family friend. She was excited to have this once-in-a-lifetime experience with people she holds close.
“I had the best time watching it with them,” said Farber. “I was so happy I was able to experience it with my dad; it is a memory I will never forget.”
Like Foley, Farber’s favorite moment was seeing peak totality.
“I was astonished when I saw the moon fully cover the sun,” said Farber. “I was so thankful to be able to experience this, and I hope I am able to see another one someday.
Miller Nation believes the eclipse watch party was the perfect opportunity to stop and appreciate our surroundings.
“[It] was a day when we could come together and move away from just the Bonaventure bubble and look at the bigger picture of things,” said Miller Nation. “It was a day when people could just stand in awe.”
kilgermi22@bonaventure.edu
