2024 Eclipse @DePaul!
The 2024 Eclipse was long awaited. Viewed by millions, this was one of the rare occasions in modern society where all age groups were actively snapping their necks away from their devices and looking up at the not-so-bright sky.
Total Eclipse is a phenomenon where the moon covers the sun completely. With 30 million people in the USA living within the path of the totality, this was truly an event the world was anticipating. Even if Chicago did not pass through the centre line of the total eclipse, it was expected to experience an approximate maximum coverage of 90%. With this in mind, DePaul ensured that its students could cherish this spectacular event from the comfort of both their campuses.
On 8th April 2024, I was in the loop campus as all of my classes of the day were there. The buzz of this special event was echoing in the air from noon onwards. A huge line of students was ready to enter the observation deck on the 11th floor of the DePaul Center. I was of course one of them.
Once I tapped my Student ID and entered the event, I was given a pair of eclipse glasses to protect my vision from the burning sun and a soft unicorn plushie to complement it. Undoubtedly, my new soft friend was my second favourite part about this day after the eclipse. The demand for both these plushies and the event was enormous, as DePaul soon ran out of both! For any future DePaul students who want to experience the 2044 total solar eclipse on campus, I would suggest standing in line as soon as possible! Some professors even allowed their on-going classes to take a break and marvel at nature.
Slowly but surely, the moon started to cover the sun. The sky dimmed several notches on what was supposed to be a bright afternoon and the temperature dipped a couple of Celsius degrees. The view that was waiting for me from my glasses was one I can never forget.
Overall, the bright and fun music blasting from the speakers alongside everyone’s excitement in the area, elevated this memory and made it truly unforgettable. Once I came back to LPC after my last class, I could still feel the lingering aftermath of the eclipse viewing party at the Quad. I can only imagine just how grand this event on the other campus was. The 2024 Eclipse @DePaul was very cool!
-Xo, Tani