In 585 B.C., along the Halys River in modern-day Turkey, the armies of Medes of Lydian clashed. The forces were fighting another battle in the Six Year War when the sun suddenly disappeared, swallowed whole by the moon. The dueling empires would lower their weapons and peace talks would begin. It was one of the earliest recordings of a solar eclipse. 

In 2024, at Shippensburg University, students gathered at The Ceddia Union Building amphitheater — a venue that would not be completely alien to the ancient Greeks who recorded the Eastern Mediterranean conflict. The students, similarly, in awe of the celestial event, were also engaged in a battle, as rival teams lobbed sandbags at each other’s territory. This would be one of many games of cornhole played on this day.

This was not a war, though, but a gathering of students at the university’s eclipse party at the CUB amphitheater. Unlike ancient civilizations that thought eclipses were random phenomena, modern humans have a greater understanding of the solar system that allows them to prepare for such events.

In the eclipse party’s case, planning began in February and required contributions from many university groups, said Travis Houtz, the associate director for operations of campus life. 

“We started planning in late February, and it really took hold a few weeks ago,” Houtz said. “APB contributed, as well as AOD and Wellness.”

The event was always going to be a popular one, which pleased Houtz, who said the turnout surpassed his expectations.

“It’s cool watching everybody kind of hang out, chill, and have a good time,” Houtz said. “It’s great seeing the space used really well, so I’m happy that people are hanging out and are energized by it.”

The party was hot in more than just the sense that it was popular. Being a warmer spring day, the university’s Activities Planning Board (APB), handed out sunglasses. A Hawaiian shaved ice truck, equipped with flavors like tiger’s blood, ninja cherry, and strawberry’d treasure, was an essential, drawing a line throughout the party — being spared only by the moon’s coverage of the sun.

One student who braved the line was freshman Savannah Miller, who, after enjoying a cone, sat on one of the CUB’s concrete terraces with her friends, taking peeks at the sun through special eclipse glasses.

Originally from Martinsburg, West Virginia, Miller remembers watching the last eclipse in 2017 with her seventh-grade friends.

“The other eclipse, we were sitting outside all in the hot sun just taking turns rotating glasses,” Miller said.

How does this one compare to that? “ It’s 100% better,” Miller said.

“You’ve got more events like cornhole, the Hawaiian shaved ice, and you’ve got s’mores,” Miller said, referring to some of the activities and refreshments that were available.

Some of those treats were themed, with Moon Pies and Sunkist being popular choices for spectators. Other treats included brownies and cakes from Reisner Dining Hall, along with a vat of lemonade that was consumed by the time the sun returned.

The glasses that were offered to safely observe the eclipse were handed out by university staff and were snatched up even faster than the Hawaiian ice.

According to an announcement, over 200 eclipse glasses were given out by 2:04 p.m., the very start of the moon’s passage by the sun. By 2:34 p.m., it was announced that the temperature would drop and may cool the area by 20 degrees. Some students would gather by the fire pits where there was a s’mores-making station. Others would eventually break out into coordinated dancing. 

One student who was watching the eclipse near the impromptu dance floor was Keegan Brenneis, a freshman at SU. Originally from Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, Brenneis said he does not remember the last eclipse, but is amazed at the turnout at the CUB.

“It’s very lively here,” Brenneis said. “I think this is the most people I’ve ever seen in this specific area.”

The eclipse would reach its maximum coverage of 93% at 3:20 p.m. For several minutes, the crowd would look upon the event with wonder. The cornhole would stop. The music coming out of the speakers would be “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” by Bonnie Tyler. And the Hawaiian Ice would temporarily be unshaved.

The sun would return before the clock rolled past four, though. And for most, the return of sunlight would mean it was time to return to academic life. For a lucky few, it meant a return to the Hawaiian Ice line. 

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