It was a party 218 years in the making.
The thousands of people who came to Kent State University on April 8 to witness the total solar eclipse did not leave disappointed by the celestial show, the likes of which had not been seen in Kent, Ohio, since 1806.
Several thousand students, faculty, staff and visitors filled Risman Plaza beginning at 2 p.m. With eclipse-themed music playing, the event was festive as folks gathered to see the once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
By 2:55 p.m., the eclipse had progressed enough to cast a considerable shadow across the daytime sky, and a cool breeze blew across the plaza as the sun went into hiding. Watchers donned their eclipse glasses to observe the glowing orange sun fade from a crescent to a sliver and then an illuminated circle as the moon completely obscured its view.
Physics Associate Professor Veronica Dexheimer, Ph.D., provided commentary over a loudspeaker and led a countdown to 3:14 p.m., when the crowd burst into shouts and cheers waving glow sticks and reveling in the three minutes of darkness that followed as Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” flowed from the loudspeakers.
In addition to Risman Plaza, large groups of students and visitors gathered on blankets and lawn chairs on Manchester Field, filled the Commons and packed other locations across campus and in downtown Kent.
Even the weather cooperated. Early morning cold, clouds and drizzle gave way to bright sunshine about 11 a.m., with clear skies creating the most favorable conditions for eclipse viewing.
Science Mall Events
Throughout the day, the campus and city were abuzz with events and activities to celebrate the eclipse.
Kent was one of many cities across northern Ohio in the path of totality for the solar eclipse. The next time Kent will be in the path of totality is 2099.
The excitement was visible among those who lined up outside Smith Hall for shows at the Kent State Planetarium.
Mary Wideman, a Kent State alumna, and her husband, Jim Minisall, residents of Kent, wore their eclipse T-shirts as they waited for the planetarium show to begin.
“We’ve been planning our day for weeks,” Wideman said.
Cadence Pierce, a senior integrated studies major from Mogadore, Ohio, said she was excited about the day.
“As everyone says, it’s a once in a lifetime,” Pierce said. “It's the magic of the universe and the magic of creation in general. I’m ecstatic that so many people are here on campus experiencing the events going on.”
Inside Smith Hall and outside Cunningham Hall, faculty, staff and students entertained visitors with science experiments and activities for children, including a squirrel-focused table by the Kent State Biology Club.
DI Hub Activities
At the Design Innovation Hub, visitors enjoyed an immersive celestial experience in the Blank_Lab and made creations in the makerspace as part of the “Total Eclipse of the Hub” activities.
“Attendees had the opportunity to make buttons as well as dye-sublimated magnets, T-shirts and mugs with premade eclipse designs with a Design Innovation twist,” said Kedron Trapp, director of strategic communications and external engagement for the Design Innovation Initiative.
For younger guests, celestial coloring pages were available while the Blank_Lab offered an out-of-this-world experience: screens showing what an eclipse would look like from outer space.
“It’s making the eclipse better for me because I am meeting some other people who are also interested in this, and I am also learning some more stuff about this,” said Jude Carver, a sophomore mechatronics engineering major. “I am getting more in-depth detail about this.”
“We came for the crafts, and it makes the whole experience more interactive, more interesting and more fun,” said Elizabeth Floyd, a freshman aeronautics major.
Rachel Steadman, a Kent State alumna and parent of a Kent State student, came to campus from Warren, Ohio, for the experience.
“I heard there was really cool stuff to make here today,” Steadman said. “We also thought that it would be really fun to have stuff to take home to highlight this experience.”
Trapp was excited to share the events with visitors and highlight the DI Hub.
“The immersive exhibit in our Blank_Lab is essentially a rendering of what an eclipse would look like from outer space: a field of stars, a glowing sun and a moon that travels across the screen into a total eclipse on loop,” Trapp said.
“I really enjoyed having guests in the DI Hub who have never been here before, with an atmosphere of excitement surrounding the eclipse,” Trapp said. “They got to see firsthand what’s possible in our spaces with our equipment and technology. I think a lot of guests were blown away by the exhibit in the Blank_Lab – it’s definitely my favorite spot in the whole building.”
Stanzas for the Sky
The Wick Poetry Center offered visitors the chance to add their voice to the community poem, “Shared Sky,” written for the eclipse by David Hassler, the Bob and Walt Wick Executive Director of the Wick Poetry Center.
Visitors filled Maj Ragain Poetry Park to add their writing and artwork to the exhibit for the chance to share in the wonder of the eclipse through imaginative writing.
Hassler said many people added their stanzas to the poem online, pinning their locations on an interactive map.
Story contributors: Phil Soencksen, Francesca Malinky and Maddie Goerl.