There is so much to be excited about on Monday, Aug. 21. Here at GC we will celebrate the first day of classes as the Great American Eclipse occurs.

The U.S. will experience the first total eclipse in decades. Just remember if it’s cloudy, we are out of luck: it will just get really dark in the middle of the day, and then it will get brighter again. However, you will be able to watch the live-streamed event online here and on NASA TV.

While there will not be a total solar eclipse at any of the GC campuses, a partial eclipse is still a cause for concern for safety. Predictions for our area call for the darkest part of the eclipse to take place mid afternoon. An interactive eclipse map that allows you to select your location and see the calculated eclipse times and duration of annularity for that location is available here.

Throughout the eclipse, the university will continue with classes and normal operations. Faculty may choose to use the eclipse as a learning opportunity for their students.

Physics Professor Dr. Donovan Domingue will have protective glasses for students to “use and share” at the Lemonade Brigade tent near the Fountain. Physics students will also be at the tent to answer questions about the solar eclipse. 

A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes in between the earth and the sun. While this rare occurrence may be exciting, safety is a concern. Looking directly at the sun during an eclipse could severely hurt your eyes. 

Protect your eyes and view the eclipse safely with these tips from the National Weather Service:

Make sure to wear special solar filtered sunglasses if you plan to stare directly at the eclipse. Safety glasses should be compliant with ISO 12312-1 international safety standards.
It is only safe to stare at the sun during the eclipse when the moon is totally covering the sun. This only happens for a brief period and will only occur in a very narrow path about 70 miles wide from Oregon to South Carolina.
You can also safely view the eclipse through a solar filtered telescope or Welder’s glass #14 and darker.
If you are going camping to view the eclipse, visit the U.S. Forest Service website for safety tips. Also, check the National Weather Service for signs of low humidity and high temperatures, which are a recipe for wildfires.
Caution: there have been some reports of fake safety glasses being sold. For more information, visit https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety.

When the eclipse is in progress drivers should not pull over alongside the road and shouldn’t wear eclipse glasses while driving. Instead, plan ahead and stop somewhere to take it all in. Also, both drivers and pedestrians should remember that just because you aren’t watching it, doesn’t mean somebody else isn’t being distracted by it.

The Federal Highway Administration calls this a “planned special event for which there has been no recent precedent in the United States.” There may well be intense traffic both before and after the eclipse along the path of totality. Viewers should attempt to get to their viewing spot well ahead of time and leave in plenty of time for their safe and timely return. Travelers should make sure to bring food and water as well as determine how to access a bathroom if they experience extended travel times due to traffic congestion.

For more information on the solar eclipse, visit eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety. 

Georgia College Best Buddies is a club dedicated to forming lasting friendships between GC students and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Milledgeville community. We are going to be having an interest meeting to talk more about our club and our upcoming year on Monday, Aug. 28 from 7-7:30 p.m. in A&S 2-38. 

Email gcbestbuddies@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

The Georgia College Women's Soccer team will host an ID Camp Sunday, Sept. 24 for any female high-school athletes who are interested in showcasing their skills and playing soccer at the next level.

The Bobcat ID Camp is open to all prospective student-athletes, giving them an important opportunity to gain next-level recognition for their talents and skills. While being able to meet and train with coaches in person, the opportunity also allows these athletes to make connections with coaches and players at Georgia College.

The camp will cost $85 for a 10 a.m.-5 p.m. session, which will consist of individual skill challenges, as well as live game simulations. Also included in this cost are a campus tour, lunch and a T-shirt.

To register, fill out the online form located here: https://tinyurl.com/y99ledcy . All checks should be made payable to Georgia College Soccer. Further questions should be directed to head coach Hope Clark at hope.clark@gcsu.edu.

University Housing and the entire Georgia College campus would like to thank the individuals and groups who helped with Cat Crew this year for making Move-In Day such a huge success. We could not have done this without you.