Looking up and looking ahead

On a surprisingly warm early April day, the sun shone above Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus. The shadow of the sundial on Cudahy Library’s tower crept forward and people began to emerge from classrooms to look toward the sky. 

As more students and faculty gathered to experience this month’s solar eclipse, the energy on campus began to shift. There were some quiet groups on the walkway by the lake and on Sean Earl Field, but the party was on the East Quad. Music drifted from speakers as groups spread blankets on the grass.

At 12:51 p.m., the moon began to move in front of the sun—“It’s getting eaten!” yelled a student—and a few minutes later, the bells of the Madonna Della Strada chapel tolled. By 1:30 p.m., over 200 students had arrived in the quad to witness the spectacle, both in the sky and all around them. 

“I’ve never seen this many people out, ever, at this school,” said sophomore Angelina Smith, who was sitting on a bench with her friends. “It’s really cool to see.” 

We asked Smith and several other students to tell us how they were feeling as the eclipse began—and to imagine where they might be in 20 years, when the next eclipse would be visible from the United States. 

Angelina Smith

(left) Sophomore, political science and sociology 

Is there anything you’re especially excited about today? 

My friends and I are super into astronomy. We always see Orion from the beach over there. We can pick it out because it’s three in a row. But this is the really big event. We wanted to go all the way down to southern Illinois where there was totality but we had class, unfortunately. But I think it’s a really big community event. I love seeing people, I love being with everybody. It’s really cool to see everybody out here and looking at the same thing.  

How would you describe the mood out here?  

It’s very college. We were just talking about that. We were like, ‘It’s so college out here right now!’ You can see everyone in their little groups, a lot of people talking and interacting.  

The next eclipse coming through the US is in 2044, so 20 years from now. Twenty years is a long way away, but do you have any idea what you’d like to be doing at that point in life? 

Oh, lord! I think, honestly, I’d like to be a professor. Have a little tenure perhaps. I don’t know if they’ll still be doing that, but I’d really like to profess somewhere, hopefully Chicago. Being on an academic campus like this—I love the energy at Loyola and I love the energy at college in general and I think I want to be in that energy for the rest of my life.  

Rianne Gemilo

(right) Sophomore, human resource management 

Are you also excited to see everyone out and interacting? 

It’s really nice, honestly. I did not expect this big of a turnout. Like Angelina said, very college, very youth, and just hearing that the next one’s going to be in 20 years, I don’t even know what that’s going to look like.  

Do you have any thoughts about what the world might look like in 20 years? 

Hopefully happier, hopefully healthier. When I’m asked that question I’m always thinking about planet Earth first. More trees planted, less pollution in the ocean. Happier people.  

And for yourself, in 20 years, how do you imagine your life? 

Honestly, when I think of myself in 20 years, I mostly think about my own personal needs, which is a nice apartment and a cat. That’s enough! I’m a simple girl! 

Jay Hashimoto

Freshman, visual communication; minor in fine arts 

Are you from the area? Born and raised? 

I am, yeah. From Chicago. I’m down in the Gold Coast.  

The next eclipse that’s coming through the US is in 20 years. When you think of what you’re studying now and what you want for the future, how do you picture yourself in 20 years? 

Well, hopefully, I’ll be here in 20 years! But you know how people who go to weddings and paint the weddings? I think that maybe I could do that. And I could paint the next eclipse! Like, who knows. The whole reason I’m out here to begin with is it’s a really nice day. It’s been really cold in Chicago for the last couple weeks. I’m just here to enjoy the weather and sit outside without having to wear a coat. The eclipses don’t happen that often so it’s just a nice excuse to get out and have fun with some friends.  

Ashley Gaffney

Sophomore, political science and Italian

Why Italian? 

I want to be a diplomat when I’m older, so I wanted a second language.  

Why do you think the eclipse brought so many people out today? 

I think humans really look for an excuse to collaborate with each other and hang out with each other. And what better than a rare event like this to do so. 

The weather is so beautiful. Do you feel like today marks a turning point toward summer? 

I hope so! I really, really hope so. I hope this is a turning point toward warmer weather, everyone can cram down on their finals, and have a good last month of school, and then head right into a good summer.  

The next eclipse is in 2044. You said you want to be a diplomat. Given your goals, do you have a vision of yourself at that time? 

In 20 years, I hope I’ve seen more of the world than I’ve seen now, above all. I hope I’ve had the chance to meet some good people. I hope I’ve graduated! I hope I’ve lived to experience more than I thought I would.  

When you think about things that are going on in the world, whether that’s politics, climate change, do you have hopes for how the rest of the world will be in 20 years? 

I hope the world in 20 years is a lot more like what is happening right now, on the quad. A lot more interaction between groups. There’s a lot of love and no one’s thinking about war or fear or issues in the world. I’d really love to see humans collaborate more in 20 years from now. I hope we have a more peaceful political climate.  

Saniya Hoskins

Freshman, nursing 

Why did you want to get into nursing? 

I got to be a CNA in high school and I liked the field so I stuck with it.  

Why do you think everyone’s screaming right now? 

Maybe because it’s getting darker? I don’t know. I love humans. We’re so cute when we get together and do stuff. 

The next eclipse is in 20 years. Do you think about what you’ll be doing then? 

Definitely working, hopefully being a nurse, that’s the goal. Maybe on a day like this, I would take my family and we could watch it together. I’m at college so I’m doing this with my friends, but it would be nice to watch it with my family. I’m looking forward to experiencing things together.  

This is a big question, but do you imagine how the world might look in 20 years? 

I hope that people are taking precautions to prevent the earth from getting to a point where it’s not livable or we can’t do things like this, be out in the open together. I would hope that we could find a way to reverse the negative effects that we’ve already done. I just hope in 20 years we can still do things like this and be together.