By Bethany Vonseggern

The temperature cools, the light shifts the shadows and the bright glow from the sun slowly turns the sky to darkness.

Aug. 21, 2017 marked the unique day that “The Great American Eclipse” created memories for a lifetime. While most have experienced an eclipse, this one was different because it created a full path-way of totality which could be seen from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Luckily for locals, St. Joseph was in the direct pathway making Western a prime location to view this phenomenon. However, due to unforeseen weather and cloudy skies the eclipse was difficult to see, but it did not stop some locals from enjoying the event.

Marissa Steimel, events and new student program coordinator who lives on campus, watched the eclipse from the Clock Tower with her two sisters and mom. Despite her slight disappointment about the clouds, Steimel said her family had a wonderful time trying to see the eclipse through the clouds.

“The moment the sky darkened and it became twilight in the middle of the day-was surreal,” Steimel said. “We were all amazed in that moment. We just couldn’t stop looking up at the sky and marveling at the change in the atmosphere.”

Weeks prior to the eclipse Western started hosting a variety of activities to mark this rare opportunity. Some events included: “Totality,” a show about the different types of eclipses showed at the Bushman Planetarium; SOLAR, an exhibition of solar-themed artwork at the Potter Hall Art Gallery; Talk with Experts at the Potter Hall Theater; and Eclipse! a musical revue with solar or lunar themed music woven into stories.