Written by Alaina Wolf // Graphic by Ben Evans
“You’ll never be the same,” said Jenna Friday, eclipse coordinator of Searcy, Arkansas. Speaking about a solar eclipse that will be visible to anyone in the Searcy area Monday, April 8, Friday said the event will be similar to “100 Super Bowls” happening simultaneously.
“This is predicted to be the largest travel event in U.S. history,” Friday said.
Arkansas has experienced a variety of eclipses within the past few years, including a partial eclipse this fall, but not one like this; Searcy has not experienced a total solar eclipse since the 1800s. Unlike partial eclipses, the solar eclipse is a scientific marvel, as the moon is the perfect distance between the sun and the earth to where there will be complete darkness when the sun should be shining. This astronomical event happens once every 18 months over the surface of the Earth. Multiple cities in Arkansas fall in the 125-mile-wide span of solar eclipse totality path, with Searcy being in the path of totality.
Dr. Cindy White, chair of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, has been preparing for this day on behalf of the University. She is organizing Harding’s first ever solar eclipse tailgate that will take place the day of the solar eclipse. All classes will be canceled from noon to 3 p.m. to ensure students and faculty will not miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience. White said Searcy expects thousands of visitors from all over the country to travel to the area to watch the eclipse.
“The city of Searcy is expecting 40,000 people just in town,” White said. “That’s double the population.”
White purchased 30,000 solar eclipse glasses to prepare for the influx of people. She also chose solar eclipse ambassadors within the student body to help educate those on campus and visiting campus about the historical and scientific significance. Two of those ambassadors are junior Melody Brooks and sophomore Ashley Daughety. The two emphasized the wonder and relational aspect the event will bring to campus, especially during Harding’s Centennial year.
“Obviously there is something special about once-in-a-lifetime events, but experiencing that with your closest college friends and your community of people is so powerful,” Brooks said.
Both mentioned how special the total solar eclipse will be because of who Harding represents. Students from other countries and different states may have never been able to witness such an event in their life, but because they’re here at Harding, they have the opportunity to go outside and see it.
“It’s hard to put into words just how special it really is,” Daughety said.
Senior Maci Claire Smith is one of many students who is looking forward to the eclipse, and she emphasized how memorable it will be to spend the day with the friends she’s made the last four years.
“I cannot wait to experience this natural phenomenon with the phenomenal friends I’ve made during my time at Harding,” Smith said.
Both Harding and the city of Searcy will be hosting various community events the weekend of and the day leading up to the solar eclipse.
