Students experience total eclipse on first day of classes

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- On the campus of Southern Illinois University, it wasn’t just spectators arriving. For many students, it was their first day of school.

For many, the first day of college or the first day back is daunting let alone when there are crowds of over 20,000 people.

But students we spoke with say the crowds didn’t bother them one bit – especially once they got to experience totality.

"I like the crowds! I’m actually a big fan. I like meeting new people and stuff like that,” said Noah Zarn, freshman at SIU.

SIU freshman Mark Litteer added, “I thought it was going to be annoying at first, but it’s been a cool experience. It was a lot of people a lot of tourists and visitors for something completely amazing. So it makes sense. All I could think about was just trying to soak it all in and it’s something you really can’t buy and it’s unreal. It’s amazing.”

Now, as the crowds hit the road, these students can hit the books.

In six years, another group will get to experience the crowds. Only this one won’t land at the beginning of the school year.