The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse at Indiana University

Riley Stark

April 17, 2024

Locals were shocked last Monday when the estimated 300,000 visitors for the total solar eclipse in Bloomington were nowhere to be found. Blue skies combined with eclipse-themed events being held at Indiana University’s Memorial Stadium, Dunn Meadow, and The Arboretum had Hoosiers gearing up for large crowds and heavy traffic. Public officials had done years of planning, but with only a fraction of those expected for the event actually showing, it was almost like another game day here in Bloomington.

One of those events took place at Dunn Meadow. The all day music festival cleverly named “Fun Not Under the Sun” was put on by IU’s Student Involvement and Leadership Center. It was a hit for IU students and visitors alike who wanted to enjoy the day while waiting for the eclipse to pass. Being just a short walk from Kirkwood Avenue, and many student housing neighborhoods, the free event welcomed a large and diverse crowd. With food trucks, games, club tables, and an entire stage devoted to local and student band performances, there was plenty to do prior to the actual eclipse in the late afternoon. Along with entertainment, the university provided ample safety resources in Dunn Meadow. Free water stations, and emergency medical service tents were positioned across the field and accessible to anybody in the area.

One student group, The Gift of Life Club, took advantage of the population the eclipse drew in at Dunn Meadow on Monday to help further their cause in encouraging students to register for the National Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Registry. The club typically hosts tabling events throughout campus, but has never seen an opportunity as big as Monday to do outreach.

“All right we gotta capitalize on this,” was Aakash Parekh’s first thought when he found out about the crowds coming to Bloomington for the eclipse. He reached out to the Student Involvement Center early and was able to obtain two spots for tables in Dunn Meadow. Parekh, a member of the group, started early in the morning, and stayed through the afternoon collecting cheek swabs and handing out surveys to IU students.

The Gift of Life Club at IU has led six students to participate in life saving stem cell transplants for children with lymphoma and leukemia from all around the country. With the match rate being one in 1,200, it is likely that many of the students who register will not be a match. So far, the club has registered approximately 7,000 IU students and hopes that by getting more students on the registry, they can save more lives.

The club did in fact “capitalize” on this day. It was their most successful tabling event they have ever done, according to Parekh.

While the club had a priority of registering as many people as possible for donation, they were still able to join in on the fun, and view the eclipse with everyone else.

“We’re all super excited for that and I think it will be a really fun time,” said Parekh.