SIUE East St. Louis Campus to Participate in April 8 Solar Eclipse

SIUE East St. Louis Campus to Participate in April 8 Solar Eclipse

April 4, 2024, 9:55 AM

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC) is hosting a moon watch in observance of the Solar Eclipse 2024 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Monday, April 8 on the green space between Buildings B and D at the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus in East St. Louis.

U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón's poem, "In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa," will be read during the moon watch, according to Sarah Kirkpatrick, director of the Learning Resource Center and Campus Engagement. Limón's poem will be engraved on NASA's spacecraft, Europa Clipper, along with participants' names and will travel 1.8 billion miles to the Jupiter system.

The LRC will distribute eclipse glasses, while supplies last. Eclipse-shaped sugar cookies and snacks will be served. Also available will be clear beads, which change colors in the sunlight, and string for those wanting to make bracelets.

"This is an unusual phenomenon," said Kirkpatrick. "It's important for libraries to support curiosity and learning and when we have a solar eclipse, it's a great opportunity."

The free event is open to the public.

The SIUE East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC) is a full-service library available to the East St. Louis and surrounding communities, as well as the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School, SIUE East St. Louis Center staff and programs and other programs and employees on the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus. It offers internet access with 10 public computers, a computer lab with 20 computers and a SMART Board available to on-campus classes and community groups. Career services, free library cards, free printing, copying, scanning, faxing, and Notary Public services are designed to provide inclusive access and assistance in one convenient location. LRC is sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).

Photo:
Sarah Kirkpatrick, director of the Learning Resource Center and Campus Engagement, shows off eclipse eyewear.