The Indiana University Media School held a special edition of their monthly First Wednesday event series to recognize the solar eclipse that passed through Bloomington on Monday, April 8th.

The Franklin Hall Commons was decorated with Moon Pies, custom safety glasses and a slew of students who came to enjoy the festivities. With cheerful music playing and safety guidelines shown on the TV screen that greets Franklin Hall guests, the event was one of the most attended of its kind since its inception.

The monthly event has been held for the past three semesters, with hopes of spreading news about important events and allowing an informal setting for the large group of students and faculty to officially meet. They always provide treats, whether it’s cookies, coffee or pizza. Last Wednesday, the treats were all eclipse-themed, with moon pies on every table in the Franklin Hall commons.

Students across all Media School majors were aware of the eclipse’s importance in Bloomington and anxiously awaited its passing. They gathered as one to enjoy cookies, moon pies and chats with faculty and friends. Students could come and go as they pleased during the hour-long event, but nearly every student left with something gained, whether it was a pair of safety glasses, a cookie or a pleasant memory.

The excitement around campus was extensive. Three-hundred thousand people were expected to be in Bloomington for the solar eclipse. While this number was an overestimate, thousands of people arrived in town to witness what some called a life-changing event of the moon coming in front of the sun and creating a shadow. The Media School was one of many organizations to take advantage of the special moment by holding an event for the community.

The number of people who showed up to Franklin Hall, however, was originally underestimated. It was the largest attendance the Media School had ever seen.

“This turnout is amazing,” Eliza Erxleben, the director of student services, said. “I might need to order some more cookies.”

By the end of the hour, the cookie tray was empty, the safety glasses were all handed out and students were exiting with a smile. From start to finish, the event was a success for the Media School — and they had just enough cookies to feed every student who came.