By Jim Melvin, communications director for the College of Science
On Aug. 21, the day of the total solar eclipse, the College of Science and its sponsors hope faculty, staff and students will be able to attend the free “Eclipse Over Clemson” mega-viewing event.
The eclipse will begin at 1:07 p.m. and end at 4:02 p.m. But the totality will begin at 2:37 p.m. and last 2 minutes and 37 seconds.
Additionally, national and local media will be at the event, which is based behind the R.M. Cooper Library in front of the Watt Family Innovation Center and will spread throughout green spaces on campus, depending on the overall size of the crowd. So there’s even an opportunity to be seen on national TV by your loved ones across the country.
With your convenience in mind, please read the following:
- Traffic on campus will be extremely heavy that day, so plan to arrive early. All internal campus roads will be closed to guests. Only faculty, staff and students with proper parking permits will be allowed to enter the interior of campus. For further questions, contact Parking and Transportation services at 864-656-2270 or parking@clemson.edu.
- If you are planning on attending the event, glasses will be distributed free at several locations near the Watt Center, Cooper Library and Amphitheater. Clemson faculty, staff and students can pre-order glasses by email at eclipse@g.clemson.edu. You will receive a return email telling you when and where you can pick up the glasses. Please do not order more than you need. They are free for anyone who will be on campus that day or who is voluntarily working outside the main campus.
- Because of the likelihood of a large influx of people on campus, be sure to lock your office doors and protect your valuables. Note that some buildings – including the Watt Family Innovation Center, Long, Kinard and Martin – will be open to the public to provide access to restroom facilities. Student volunteers will be assigned to these buildings. For questions about security issues, contact police@clemson.edu.
- Between 2:30 and 2:45 p.m., it would be helpful if you would turn off your office lights so that the campus will be as dark as possible during totality.
Faculty and staff should check with their department heads/supervisors to determine the best time(s) to attend the festivities. For more information, including a calendar of events, go to http://clemson.edu/eclipse. And please spread the word to colleagues and students.
