Solar Eclipse Fosters Connection Among Chargers

The 2024 Solar Eclipse earlier this month was an important event for residents of North America, as it was for the University of New Haven students. On Monday, April 8, the Astronomy Club brought everyone together to watch the Solar Eclipse in the Bixler-Gerber Quad. This eventually turned into an ‘Eclipse Party’ for Chargers and a chance for everyone to break out from the cold weather into a more mild day with some clouds and partial sun.

Starting around 1:30 p.m., students began gathering in the residential quad, where they were ready to pick up their eclipse glasses and experience the Great North American Solar Eclipse with their friends, faculty, and staff! With more than 200 members on the quad at its peak, it was an exceptional view to see everyone enjoying the solar eclipse event, and anxiously waiting for the peak eclipse moment to take place.

The Astronomy Club also had a setup of a live eclipse tracker on the quad. Graduate and undergraduate students were seen spending time together at the quad with picnic setups while enjoying snacks and beverages that added to the eclipse party.

As a viewer myself, I was thrilled to see the enthusiasm of everyone who participated. It felt like a much-needed break as the cold weather faded from that day onwards, and it was wholesome to see so many of my friends, classmates, colleagues, and faculty gathered to enjoy the solar eclipse. It indeed is true – the total solar eclipse did bring everyone together!

Anchal Bhatia ’24 MBA is a candidate in the University’s MBA program.