Campus gears up for rare total eclipse of the sun in April

Location. Location. Location.

The three most important words in real estate. Right?

They’re also the three most important words that apply to the once-in-a-lifetime total eclipse of the sun that’s to happen on April 8, so SUNY Fredonia is positioning the campus to deliver a truly memorable experience for students, faculty and staff and residents of surrounding communities to enjoy.

“We are in what is called the path of totality. Whenever an eclipse happens, the size of the moon’s shadow on earth is quite small, typically 100 miles wide,” explains Department of Physics Associate Professor Michael Dunham.

Think of the campus as ground zero because “it’s in the center of the center line” of that narrow strip, Dr. Dunham remarked. “Our county will experience totality, but in a very limited window.” Dunham teaches astronomy courses, does research on the formation of stars and planets, and hosts public telescope viewings on the roof of the Science Center.

Actually, we’re in the center of the center line (of the eclipse). It’s about as good as it could be,” Dr. Michael Dunham

You’d be hard pressed to find another location “under the sun” that’s as well-prepared for this extremely rare natural phenomenon in Chautauqua County as SUNY Fredonia. It’s an awesome responsibility the campus doesn’t take lightly.

The 2024 Eclipse Planning Committee has already held several monthly meetings, so plans are coming together to make this a truly memorable event. Their meetings will be held more frequently in early 2024 to coordinate and finalize a full day’s worth of activities and attractions taking alongside what’s projected to be an unusually long actual solar eclipse.

So just how big a deal is this eclipse?

It's a very big deal.

“Our totality will be just under 4 minutes,” said Dunham, co-chair of the eclipse planning committee.  “The last (total) eclipse in 2017, the longest anywhere in the United States was 2 minutes. We were 75 percent then.”

Dunham has calculated totality here – when the sun is totally blocked over the campus – will start at 3:17.29 and end at 3:21.14, plus or minus a second or two. A partial eclipse will begin about an hour beforehand, as the moon starts to move across the sun. Another partial eclipse lasting around an hour follows as the moon moves out of the path of the sun.

“Actually, we’re in the center of the center line (of the eclipse). It’s about as good as it could be,” Dunham said.

The campus will furnish viewing glasses for all students, faculty and staff, and additional glasses will be available for campus visitors. Plans to distribute the glasses are being developed.

University Stadium and nearby athletic fields and possibly adjoining parking lots have been tentatively designated as the official eclipse viewing area. A portion of Ring Road will likely be closed to provide space for people to walk around. “That will also give us a lot of hard surface space in case the ground is wet, which is often the case in April,” Dunham said.

The Office of Admissions is inviting interested high school students and their families from Chautauqua and neighboring counties to campus to attend the eclipse and related activities. An informal STEM open house in the morning, designed for students interested in these academic areas, is being developed for Houghton Hall and adjacent Science Center, said Interim Admissions Director Kimberlie Ball. Faculty will be on board to meet students, discuss their academic areas and answer questions.

Tours of the two connected academic buildings that comprise the Fredonia Science Complex will also be included, as well general tours of the campus, Ms. Ball added. Admissions literature will also be available.

Campus Life is reaching out to various student clubs and organizations to participate in a club showcase in the Williams Center Multipurpose Room, from 11 a.m. to noon. “It’ll be a mix between Activities Night (student clubs set up information tables) and the Maker Faire (a gathering of crafters, educators and tinkerers),” said Director of Campus Life Mark Suida.

“It will give students a chance to showcase their clubs,” Mr. Suida explained. Assorted activities for visiting students are also being planned.

Campus Life is also organizing a pep rally, envisioned as a high-energy event with dancers and singing groups showcasing their talents, along with activities that engage visiting students, from noon to 12:30 p.m.

Financial support for eclipse day activities is being provided by the Carnahan Jackson Fund for the Humanities, and the Phyllis W. and Lawrence A. Patrie Endowment for the Sciences, both through the Fredonia College Foundation.