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Parent Survival Guide IDS

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Dear parents, Welcome to the IU family, and congratulations on raising a Hoosier! You’re reading a publication from the Indiana Daily Student, IU’s preeminent newspaper serving the campus and the city of Bloomington for more than 150 years. You can also find us online at idsnews.com or on almost every social media site @idsnews.

We’re not parents, but from what ours have told us, sending a kid to college can be nerve-wracking. Will they make friends? Will they have

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

fun? Will they avoid having too much fun? Perhaps most importantly, will they stay true to themselves?

College is the first step into the real world for many kids. It’s a time when many achieve the most internal growth, make the most mistakes and learn the most about themselves. As a parent, these changes may not be evident in the first year. But trusting your child goes a long way in letting them have the best college experience they can hope for.

It matters to let your student pave

their own path. Making mistakes and growing from them are a natural part of life, as are taking cool classes, meeting new friends and engaging in extracurricular activities.

When graduation day comes for your child, which will happen before you even realize, they will have grown more than you ever thought they had room for. In the case of some who discover weightlifting, that growth will be apparent. For the rest of them, you’ll see it in the way they carry themselves and navigate the world.

Inside this publication are some tips, advice and general information to help you in this journey with your new college student. Whether this is your first kid, the last of many or somewhere in between, we hope the information stored here will be of use to you.

Welcome again, families, and enjoy everything IU can offer!

Advice to parents from parents who have been there before

By IDS staff

ids@idsnews.com

Elke Stickelmaier, mother of managing editor of content Ursula Stickelmaier

Let your kid go with the knowledge that you’ve given them the tools to succeed. Think about what you were like at their age, the obstacles you faced and how you handled them, chances are they are more mature than you were then. At least that was the case for me.

Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer, mother of co-editor-inchief Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer

This is a big transition for kids — but also for parents. We raise our kids from birth to this moment when they leave our house with the hopes that we have given them, as the old saying goes, both roots and wings. As the kids fly off to this next chapter, parents are often left with anxiety and sadness.

My advice: feel your feelings, stay available for

your kids by keeping the lines of communication open, but don’t hover. As hard as it may be, this is the time to let go. Let your child know that you are available if they need you or your advice, but this is the time for them to make their own decisions and figure out their own identity separate from you.

We encouraged our kids to try new classes and experiences, study abroad and get involved on campus and in the community. The development and growth in

college is huge — so many new experiences await! It is a joy to see your kids evolve.

Bob Frey, father of co-editor-in-chief Jonathan Frey

We scheduled weekly calls on Sunday evenings. We would also usually talk once during the week. The regular calls were good for us as parents, helped us navigate the “newness” of our son living away from us. I also strongly recommend setting up 3rd Party access to IUOne. This portal

is an effective and efficient way to interact with University, e.g. pay tuition, bills, etc. as well as to check your student’s class schedule.

Laura Ferster, Frey’s mother

Our son made the most of his time at IU - it was his journey. He made lifelong friends, participated in extracurricular activities, worked for the IU newspaper, and learned about the world and himself. Graduating in 2026, he is proud of his achievements

(as we certainly are too!). As his mother, I saw how important his four years at IU were to him. He grew, matured, and achieved successes at IU. He’s wellprepared to face the complex world with confidence. It wasn’t my journey. I tried too hard to predict outcomes for him, but he needed to live his own life, put in the effort, and accept the consequences, good or bad. If I could change one thing, I’d try to worry less and accept the college ups and downs better.

A checklist for helping your student move in

By Will Tallackson wdtallac@iu.edu

Leaving home and moving into a dorm for the first time can feel both exciting and intimidating for new IU students. I remember how nervous I felt as an incoming freshman trying to organize everything I needed before move-in day.

Between dorm supplies, move-in preparation and adjusting to campus life, having the right essentials and planning ahead can help students feel more prepared for their first year in Bloomington.

Bedding essentials

After long days of classes and campus activities, having a comfortable bed setup can make the transition to college life feel less stressful. A mattress topper, pillows, comforters and extra sheets can make residence hall beds feel more comfortable.

Bringing my personal blankets and pillows from home also helped my dorm room feel more personal and made adjusting to college easier during my freshman year.

Storage and organization

I quickly realized hows-

mall dorm rooms can feel, especially when sharing space with a roommate. Without enough organization, rooms can become c luttered quickly.

Under-bed bins, storage drawers, laundry hampers, desk organizers and closet hangers helped keep clothes, school supplies, snacks and personal b elongings organized.

School supplies and technology essentials

College classes can feel overwhelming during the first few weeks of the semester without the right s chool supplies and tech -

nology. Laptops, chargers, not ebooks, folders, pens, pencils and planners can help students stay organized as classes begin. Items such as extension cords and power strips are also useful in dorm rooms with limited outlets, especially when you need to charge laptops, phones and other electronics all at once. Time-management tools such as an alarm clock also helped me stay on schedule and wake up on time for early morning classes.

Bathroom and cleaning products

Sharing communal

bathrooms and living spaces can be one of the biggest adjustments for freshmen living in residence halls. Shower shoes, shower caddies, towels, toiletries and hand soap are everyday essentials for dorm living, especially when using communal bathrooms.

I found that keeping everything in a shower bag made trips to and from the bathroom much more convenient. Cleaning products such as disinfecting wipes, paper t owels, laundry detergent and air freshener also helped keep my dorm

room clean and comfortable.

Personal items and decorations

One of the most difficult parts of leaving home for colle ge can be adjusting to a new environment w ithout the familiar decorations and comforts of home. Bringing personal items such as your favorite posters, throw pillows, bl ankets and photos can help dorm rooms feel more welcoming during the first few weeks on campus.

One item I especially enjoyed having was a whiteboard on my door, which allowed people on my floor to leave positive messages, answer fun questions and get to know one another better throughout the year.

Move-in dates and check-in information

Incoming freshmen will move into campus housing Aug. 18–19 and will receive additional information through their IU email accounts about scheduling move-in appointments. Students must first check in at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, located at 1001 E. 17th St., before heading to their assigned residence halls. Preparing ahead of time for check-in can help move-in

day feel less stressful for students and families.

Move-in day tips

Before arriving on campus, students and parents can view room dimensions and layouts for assigned

residence halls through the IU Housing website to better prepare for move-in day. Reusable moving bags or

blue IKEA-style bags can make the move-in process faster because they are easier to carry through resi-

dence halls than large cardboard boxes and they help keep belongings organized while unloading.

Dates you need to know for this fall

By Zoe Reed reedzoe@iu.edu

Indiana University is a huge school with dozens of organizations and clubs. Finding important dates to know within the long list of academic and extracurricular activities can be difficult.

Between move-in logistics, add-drop deadlines, holiday breaks and final exams, the fall semester at IU moves faster than most new students and parents expect.

For full official calendars, you can look at the Office of the Registrar website. But, knowing where to look is half the battle, so here are some need-to-know dates worth circling on your calendar.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 to Wednesday, Aug. 19

This is the grand movein day, where the majority of IU Bloomington students will check in and move into

their residence halls. All students should have their own assigned time for move-in, which will be shared over the summer.

Check in times are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days, arrive early to make sure you can get a close parking spot. After the grand move-in days, all students are directed to go to the center desk of their assigned residence hall to check-in.

Monday, Aug. 24

This is the first day of classes for the semester. Before the first day, it’s good for your student to know the general locations of their classes, the buildings they’re in and how long it takes to get there by their preferred transportation.

Check bus routes ahead of time. All students should also look for a shared syllabus from their professors before the first day of class; some may require specific

school materials that need to be purchased or prepared in advance.

Monday, Aug. 31

After this date, students dropping out of a class will receive a “W” for “withdrawn” on their official transcript.

Saturday, Sept. 5

IU football will play North Texas at Memorial Stadium in the opening game of the 2026 season. The Hoosiers will be continuing their momentum from last season, when they completed a perfect 16-0 season to win the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Monday, Sept. 7

No classes in observance of Labor Day.

Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20

The Fall Family Week-

end takes place on campus. Many parents and siblings come to visit their students at IU for the weekend. A schedule of activities will be announced by the Office of Student Life closer to the event dates.

Friday, Oct. 9 to Sunday, Oct. 11

Students will have a three-day weekend for fall break.

Friday, Oct. 16

The first eight-week courses end, with final exams taking place during the last class.

Monday, Oct. 19

After the first eight-week courses have been completed, the second eight-week courses will begin.

Friday, Oct. 30 to Saturday, Oct. 31

The homecoming weekend kicks off with the 2026

IU Homecoming Parade, which takes place beginning on Woodlawn Avenue and ending at Seventh Street on Friday. On Saturday, there will be a Homecoming Huddle and a football game against Minnesota.

Saturday, Nov. 9

IU basketball will play Syracuse in Indianapolis in the opening game of the 2026 season.

Friday, Nov. 20

The 13-week courses end, with final exams during the last class.

Friday, Nov. 20 to Sunday Nov. 29

Thanksgiving break begins after the last class on Friday, Nov. 20. Students resume classes on Monday, Nov. 30.

Saturday, Dec. 12

Last day of classes for the semester, as well as the last

day to withdraw from all classes.

Monday, Dec. 14 to Friday, Dec. 18

Final exams will take place this week.

Students can find stressrelief activities and preparation resources through their schools. One option is College Care Week, which typically offers free food, therapy dogs, massage chairs and wellness activities to help students decompress before exams.

Wednesday, Dec. 23

Official grades and transcripts will become available.

Friday, Dec. 18 to Monday, Jan. 11

Winter break begins after the student’s last final exam and runs nearly four weeks. The spring semester will begin on Monday, Jan. 11, with tuition due Jan. 10.

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4 ways to stay connected with your Hoosier

By Zoe Reed reedzoe@iu.edu

Your bird is officially leaving the nest. For almost nine months, your child will set their own schedule, do their own laundry and figure out where to get three meals a day, all on their own.

Between planning what to do with your child’s soon-to-be vacant room and watching them dive into college life, feeling a little disconnected is normal. As a student who went through this process with my own parents, I’ve picked up a few things about how to stay in touch. Here are four ways to stay connected with your Hoosier.

Discuss boundaries

Before move-in day, have an honest conversation about expectations. College is a nerve-racking adjustment for students and the urge to check in constantly is completely understandable.

But too much contact can strain the relationship more than the distance itself. As your student begins discovering independence, a steady stream of calls and texts can feel overwhelming rather than comforting.

Sit down together before the semester starts and talk through what staying in touch looks like for both of you. Agree on a time for calls or check-ins that respect their new schedule and stick to it.

Send a care package

Once a teenager is treated like an adult, they will act like one — sometimes.

Getting used to college life is often a long process and it can be overwhelming at times. Even now, receiving a package of goodies from my parents brings a bigger smile to my face than any text could.

Nothing says “I’m thinking of you” like something waiting in the mailbox. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. A handwritten card, their favorite snack, a gift card or a few extra dining dollars on their account can

go a long way during a brutal week of midterms.

The gesture matters more than the contents, though having a meal paid for never hurts.

Show up to school events and games

This one is especially important for parents who live close enough to visit, but even if you’re a ways away, it’s worth the journey. Luckily, IU gives you plenty of reasons to make the trip.

Plan a weekend around a football game at Memorial Stadium, catch a perfor-

mance at the IU Auditorium or grab lunch on Kirkwood Avenue and let them walk you through their favorite spots on campus. The point isn’t the event itself, but showing up in their world instead of always asking them to come back to yours.

You don’t have to wait for a big occasion to come down, either. Sometimes just showing up is enough.

Keep your door open

College is a whirlwind, and your student isn’t always going to have the bandwidth to reach out as

often as you would like. Patience goes a long way during this transition, for both of you.

When they do call, make it easy. Lead with curiosity instead of worrying when asking about their friends, their classes and what they’ve been up to. If they know they can call home without feeling interrogated or guilted, they will. Keep in mind that sometimes that call comes at 11 p.m. on a Tuesday or right after something went wrong, like a failed exam or a late night out. Those are

the moments that matter the most.

Feeling comfortable enough to call my own parents whenever I needed got me through some of my hardest disappointments and frustrations in college. Give your student that same thing.

College goes by faster than either of you will expect. Staying connected just takes a little intention, a lot of patience and showing up in whatever way you can. Your Hoosier needs to know you’re still there, even from a distance.

By Stella Klaus ssklaus@iu.edu

“Who’s yere?” Indiana settlers would frequently yell as a visitor knocked upon their door. This is one of many popular theories as to how the nickname “Hoosiers” came about for Indiana residents.

Similar to the term Yankee, which is typically used to refer to people from New England or Northeastern United States, Hoosier refers to a native or inhabitant of Indiana. It is one of the oldest and most widely accepted state nicknames. But what does it really mean to be a Hoosier?

The term first became

popular in the 1830s around the time a poem called “The Hoosier’s Nest” by John Finley was released. However, it is believed that the term was used in the years before the poem too. The nickname was found in numerous other written documents in the late 1820s and early 1830s, including multiple letters, diaries and publications.

Although many have questioned the origins of the nickname, one of the most extensive researchers was Jacob Piatt Dunn Jr., an Indiana historian. Dunn found that the word was often used in the South during the 19th century to refer to people that were considered rustic, rough class, uncouth

What is a Hoosier?

or country.

Dunn suggested that the nickname was taken on with humorous spirits, at a time when Midwesterners were fond of state nicknames. By the time Finley used the word in his poem, “it no longer carried a negative connotation, taking on the new meaning of “a self-reliant man who was able to subdue the wilderness, defend his home, and command the respect of his neighbors,” Sarah Wrigley, Finley’s daughter said.

Dunn also traced the word back to “hoozer” from the Cumberland dialect of England, which came from the Anglo-Saxon word “hoo” meaning high or hill.

“Hoozer” meant anything unusually large like a hill. This version of the nickname would have likely been brought over by the descendants of English immigrants when they settled in the hills of Southern Indiana.

Another widespread explanation for the nickname is that it comes from Harry Hoosier. Hoosier was a Methodist minister who was born into slavery. He became the first Black American Methodist preacher in the country during the 1770s. Hoosier preached all over the country, including just south of Indiana in Kentucky. It is believed that Hoosier’s followers brought

their Methodist beliefs and the Hoosier nickname to Indiana once it was granted statehood.

Another popular theory is a contractor named Hoosier preferred to hire Indiana laborers who became known as “Hoosier’s men” leading to all Indiana residents being known as Hoosiers.

These theories, however, are mostly unsupported, becoming no more than urban legends.

While the true origins of the nickname may never be known, the name has lasted more than a century as a nickname for the people of Indiana and has come to now mean friendliness, neighborliness and satisfaction with life.

Other popular theories include Indiana rivermen beating or “hushing” their opponents in the brawls that would often happen and becoming known as “Hushers” and eventually Hoosiers. Another theory that similarly originates from our early settlers is that during fights they would often scratch and bite off their opponents’ noses and ears. This was so common that settlers would often have to ask, “whose ear?” when coming in the morning after a fight and seeing an ear on the ground, a phrase which then developed into Hoosier.

Which school is your student in?

IU Bloomington’s undergraduate schools

By Safin Khatri safkhat@iu.edu

IU Bloomington has 12 undergraduate degreegranting schools and an honors college.

College of Arts and Sciences

The largest school at IU is the College of Arts and Sciences with majors ranging from political science to biology. The college is housed in buildings in the south and central parts of campus. Arts and sciences also houses three schools: the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design; the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies and The Media School.

Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design

The Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design has 14 areas of study ranging from fashion design to merchandising. The school is in three buildings in the central part of campus.

Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies

The Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies features the largest foreign language program in the nation and offers seven majors. The school is named after former Indiana Senator Richard Lugar and former Rep. Lee Hamilton. The school is in the Global and International Studies Building

south of Wells Library.

The Media School

The Media School was established in 2014, merging journalism, telecommunications and communications into one school. The school offers programs in media, journalism, cinematic arts and game design. It also features student media including the IDS, WIUX and IUSTV. Franklin Hall — formerly a library with an iconic red roof — is home to the school, adjacent to Sample Gates.

Kelley School of Business

The Kelley School of Business is a top-ranked program offering 20 majors, including IU’s most popular major:

finance. The undergraduate program is in Hodge Hall, in the northern part of campus off 10th Street and Fee Lane.

School of Education

The School of Education offers nine majors, including elementary and secondary education. The school is in the Wendell W. Wright Education Building on Rose Avenue in the central part of campus.

Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering

The Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering offers five majors and is housed in three buildings in the northwestern part of campus. Luddy also features

Big Red 200, one of the largest university owned supercomputers in the nation.

Jacobs School of Music

Jacobs School of Music is one of the largest music schools in the nation, offering 24 areas of study from ballet to music business. Jacobs features student performances in ballet, orchestra and opera with tickets available to the public and to students at a reduced price. The school is located in six buildings in the central part of campus.

School of Nursing

The School of Nursing is in the Regional Academic Health Center, adjacent to the IU Health Bloomington Hos-

pital. Nursing students can be spotted wearing crimson scrubs around campus.

School of Social Work

The School of Social Work is also located at the RAHC and offers programs in social work and labor studies.

O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

The O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs is home to around 3,000 students and is commonly known as SPEA. O’Neill offers five areas of study and is adjacent to the Kelley School of Business in the northern part of campus.

School of Public Health

The School of Public

Health-Bloomington offers programs including tourism, kinesiology and epidemiology. The school is next to Bill Garret Fieldhouse in the central part of campus.

Hutton Honors College

Hutton Honors College is an admission only program, which allows students to take honors classes and the opportunity to complete the Hutton Honors Notation. From finance to folklore, there is something for every student to explore. Take advantage of the hundreds of areas of study offered across the 13 schools at IU and consider taking a few classes or even a minor in a different school.

Finding off-campus housing

A definitive guide to helping your student look for off-campus housing

By Odessa Lyon oolyon@iu.edu

So, your student is moving out of IU’s residence halls and is now in the market for an off-campus living arrangement. If you’re with them, it’s time to sit down at the dinner table; if not, it’s time to sit down over a video chat. Either way, rip a piece of paper off a pad and fish a ballpoint pen out of the junk drawer and get ready to help them make some decisions.

You’ll first want to discuss your child’s priorities.

House-hunting in Bloomington can be tough and expensive, so it’s important to get this out of the way. Find out if their priority is location, number of bedrooms, price, outside space, petfriendliness or amenities like an on-site gym or pool.

Figuring out their non-negotiables or dealbreakers will help you determine what concessions you’ll need to make — and need to break to them.

They want to walk or bike to campus? They might have to sacrifice lower rent and more space. Want to live alone? That might mean they pay more and look farther away from campus. Want outside spaces? They’ll need a house with, likely, at least two other roommates.

Want more amenities?

They’ll probably pay more for a large, farther-away apartment complex.

Now, that’s not to say it’s completely unrealistic that you’ll be able to help them find a place that fulfills all their wishes.

I wanted to live alone, within walking distance from campus, with no pet deposit or monthly charge and pay less than $1,000 a month with parking. I found exactly that — a 1-bedroom apartment that’s a 15-minute walk from

at the upper limits of my budget and hasn’t been renovated in… quite a while.

Remind your student that the search is first and foremost about tempering expectations and comparing a listing’s advantages with its disadvantages.

But, once they acknowledge awareness of both what’s important to them and what they’ll have to concede, the rest will fill itself in.

From there, check in with them about roommates, if they’ll have some.

Do they have reliable friends with whom they’re looking for a place, or are they still looking for roommates? If it’s the latter, you can urge them to ask around from friends of friends. You can also point them to websites with local postings of students seeking roommates like IU Classifieds on one.iu.edu or the plethora of rental Facebook groups.

However, if your child doesn’t have any leads or doesn’t mind much, you might sway them toward a

apartment complex like Atlas, the Quarters, the Dillon, Stadium Crossing or the Monroe, to name a few, as these communities often can assign random roommates for their tenants.

Once they’ve decided on their priority and type of living situation, it’s time to put some elbow grease into scouting out the listing that checks those boxes.

I’ve had the best luck looking for apartments at complexes large and small on apartments.com. Otherwise, houses and

turn down the chance to find discounted rates on IU Classifieds or Facebook groups from people subletting their rooms or whole units. I’ve also found listings directly on property management companies’ websites that aren’t listed elsewhere, like those for Grant Properties, Sarge Rentals or Granite Student Living and the like.

Once they’ve found some places that relatively fit the parameters you’ve figured out together, then the hard work starts. Either you or your student will have to call or contact these property management companies to schedule walk-throughs. During that time, they should check all the faucets and the water pressure of any shower heads while also ascertaining the general vibe of that street or apartment complex. Before you sign on as their guarantor, you might recommend they make an appointment with Student Legal Services, who can review and explain the lease to them free of charge. That’s not to say you don’t trust your student, but no renting scene is perfect, and you might chance upon a grifter in any college town. That all being said, good luck with the search!

Places to buy IU merch for yourself and your Hoosier

By Ursula Stickelmaier ustickel@iu.edu

Whether you’re only coming to Bloomington to help your student move in or mentally planning a dozen trips for Indiana football games and campus events, sporting IU merchandise is a simple but effective way to celebrate this new chapter in your student’s life. And no Indiana University parent should leave town without some merchandise to support their new Hoosier.

Lucky for you, IU merchandise is in no short supply in Bloomington. So, if you’re looking for places to start your new cream and crimson wardrobe, then these five Bloomington stores are must stop shops for you.

The

Indiana Shop

Established in 1966, The Indiana Shop is a great place to start your search for IU merch. With two locations in Bloomington, one on Kirkwood Avenue and the other on Third Street, this team store provides a wide selection of IU merchandise for men, women and kids. The Indiana Shop might have one of the most extensive collections, carrying accessories and home goods along with their apparel. Whether you’re looking to show your team spirit with one of their many hoodies or you’re hoping to support the team at your next cookout with an IU branded grill set, you’re sure to find something you love at The Indiana Shop.

Greetings on Kirkwood

Located just a two-minute walk away from Sample Gates, Greetings is another popular option for IU merchandise. This is a popular option for students when shopping both because of the stores central location in downtown Bloomington and it’s trendy designs. The store sells a wide variety of sweatshirts, tees, pants and much more to match the school’s cream and crimson color scheme. With the return of Hoosier the Bison, if you are in the market for some mascot merch, Greetings is a great place to look. The store sells dozens of designs in both youth and adult sizes, making it a perfect place to start finding IU merchandise for the whole family.

Indiana University Bookstore

Located inside the Indiana Memorial Union, the Indiana University Bookstore is the official spot for Hoosier merchandise. Gone are the days when college bookstores were only a place to buy and pick up textbooks; now you can look for cute IU-branded additions to your closet while helping your student pick up some essentials for class. If you are hoping to rep merch from your Hoosier’s specific college within IU, the IU Bookstore offers merchandise for several schools on campus. While many of the options can fall on the pricier end of things, the three floors and a location in the heart of campus make it worth checking out as you explore IU.

Homefield at Tracks

Owned and operated by popular collegiate apparel brand Homefield Apparel, Homefield at Tracks is the flagship store that they opened in partnership with Bloomington record store Tracks on Kirkwood. The brand’s brick and mortar location opened in August 2025, and while the store continues to sell vinyl records, it’s made room for a wide array of IU merchandise. Connor Hitchcock, one of Homefield Apparel’s cofounders, began selling IU merchandise when he was an undergraduate student, so if you are looking for a company that truly understands the Hoosier spirit, Homefield at Tracks is a great place to start.

Plato’s Closet

For those looking for a more budget friendly option that will still yield great results, try finding some IU merch at Plato’s Closet. Although thrifting for IU merch can be done at almost any thrift store in Bloomington, Plato’s Closet typically has a specific section of their store set aside for donated team merchandise which makes finding the perfect piece for your closet much easier. Plus, if you are hoping to find a tee or hoodie that captures a more vintage era of IU merchandise, buying secondhand is the way to go. Plato’s Closet’s policy of only taking gently used clothing helps ensure that the clothes you buy are in good condition.

IU parents through the years

You’ll have years of experiences to share with your students while they’re in college. Here are some experiences of the families who came before you.

A mother and daughter from the Philippines both prepare for graduation in 1950. There were only a few dozen international students enrolled that year. There were 4,481 international students enrolled on the IU Bloomington campus in the fall of 2025.

IU ARCHIVES

Students at an IU football game in the 1970s send a message to their parents.

Graduate Latroy Hampton hugs his mother, Eunice Foley, following spring commencement May 8, 2010, at Assembly Hall. Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning producer, record executive and musician Quincy Jones delivered that year’s commencement address.

The best bars for a parents’ night out

By Jonathan Frey jonafrey@iu.edu

So, you came into town to visit your kid or kids, and you spent the day sightseeing or watching an IU sporting event. They brought you to their suspiciously clean dorm room, and you bought them the nicest dinner they’ve had in months.

But now the sun is setting, and Bloomington’s nightlife awakens. Maybe your child is staying in tonight; maybe they have a party to attend where a parent would be a strange sight. No matter the case, you’re on your own.

I know some parents love to go to the bars and live that college life for one more night (The Upstairs Pub or either Kilroy’s location would be your best bet) and some don’t indulge at all. If you fall somewhere in between, and you would prefer a night out sans 20-somethings packing the counter, I’ve got you covered.

The Atlas Ballroom

The Atlas, located at 209 S. College Ave., is a quirky venue perhaps most noteworthy for its selection of craft beers and imports. Its rotating selection of beverages has included Irish stouts and Belgian ales among others, and its craft selection is handcurated for a variety of brews and ABVs.

More relevant to this article, I can say from my personal experience that it’s rarely crowded. It’s also rarely empty, usually featuring an assortment of regulars and some straggler college kids who just learned of Atlas’ existence.

It cultivates a cozy atmosphere with low lighting and vintage decor, including an old car hollowed out to become a disc jockey stand. The seating is comfortable and abundant, the drinks are well within the normal Bloomington price range and the staff is always friendly.

Alley Bar

Perhaps I’m betraying the townies by writing about this bar at all, as it’s a wellkept secret of downtown. It’s certainly not an upscale establishment, but it’s not your run-of-the-mill dive bar either. It strikes a nice middle ground of comfort and affordability.

The Bishop Bar

The Bishop is another spot with a premium location downtown at 123 S. Walnut St. What makes The Bish-

Located at 210 W. Kirkwood Ave., Alley Bar is a unique creature in the world of Bloomington bars. It’s just beyond the heart of town and serves affordable beers including some from local breweries, yet it always seems to have room.

op unique is that it serves as a live music and performance venue as well. Once or twice per week, you can count on a unique live experience from local underground artists to poetry readings.

Friendly Beasts Cider Company

Friendly Beasts is another spot I hesitate to betray. Nestled along the B-line Trail at 222 W. Second St., this small artsy spot is fantastic for a peaceful evening.

As the name suggests, Friendly Beasts specializes in locally sourced and home-brewed ciders. According to their website, they primarily feature ciders on the dry end of the spectrum, but have recipes catered to many tastes.

Like Atlas, The Bishop has a rotating selection of craft beers and imports, and it is generally well-regarded for its drink selections. It’s probably the most “mainstream” bar I’d recommend in the vein of non-student bars, as it can still be packed depending on the time, day and event. But its atmosphere is always welcoming, and the clientele is often respectful and quiet compared to your typical college bar.

In a world where hipster locales are increasingly populated with $20 burgers and truffle fries, this is an eclectic venue true to its name and its roots. If you find yourself needing to use the bathroom, you’ll see a small art gallery in the back room. A word to the wise: either eat beforehand or bring your food there. Yes, it’s allowed. The alcove that houses it makes it cozy but also makes it a long walk from the nearest food-offering venue. They do serve nuts, chips and pretzels, but you might be best served bringing dinner along with you.

COLUMN: The best gift cards to purchase for your college student

By Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer matfuent@iu.edu

Gift cards are both the easiest and hardest purchases for your new Indiana University student. They’re simple and require little effort, but it can be a pain to find one your student might actually use.

Fear not — here are three recommendations for gift cards that your new Hoosier will surely use, and enjoy, in Bloomington.

BuffaLouie’s at The Gables

It’s a staple of Bloomington for a reason. One of the best chicken wing spots in town, BuffaLouie’s at The Gables is a favorite

of many IU students for its wings, burgers and overall vibes.

Nestled just off campus in the historic Gables building on Indiana Avenue, the restaurant has been around since 1987. The walls of its interior showcase IU sports posters, memorabilia and other photos, and plenty of TVs fill the space, so it’s almost impossible to miss any action if you visit to watch a game.

It’s not the cheapest option in town, which may deter some students from choosing the restaurant as their spot for dinner. But if you gift them a pre-paid meal, it’s unlikely any IU student would turn down a trip to BuffaLouie’s.

Soma Coffeehouse

With four locations in town, Soma is a great local spot for grabbing a quick coffee or bite to eat if you don’t want to settle for Starbucks. The two most popular locations are just off Kirkwood Avenue and the often-crowded intersection of Third Street and Eagleson Avenue. The chain recently opened a new location near 11th Street that is quickly gaining popularity.

I’m not much of a specialty coffee drinker, so I find Soma’s standard coffee — preferably the dark roast — to be high-quality. When I have expanded my horizons, some of the specialty lattes are also quite good, includ-

Housing for EVERY lifestyle

ing the Lebowski and Top O’ The Morning.

Drinks at Soma aren’t the cheapest options in town, especially when compared to some of the alternatives available at the bigger corporate spots. But any Soma location is still a great place to chat with friends or study, so having a gift card is handy to facilitate those experiences.

Homefield at Tracks

Homefield Apparel is a popular clothing website that recently found a home on Kirkwood Avenue at the Tracks record store. Its website features a wide variety of collegiate wear, but the location on Kirkwood is dedicated to plenty of different IU clothes, ranging from Indi-

ana football shirts to Hoosier beanies.

The clothes are some of my favorites that I’ve purchased both for comfort and looks, but the prices can sometimes be a little

steep. Purchasing a gift card for your new Hoosier will fix that issue, which lets them get some new swag that will certainly impress their friends and help them fit into the IU culture.

How to help your student navigate financial aid

By IDS staff ids@idsnews.com

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a yearly application for students to receive federal aid and grants to offset their tuition. The student aid package is based on students’ parents’ income if they still file as dependent.

The first step to applying for FAFSA is to create a StudentAid.gov account. Both the student and parent need an account to complete the necessary steps. Make sure to keep track of your student’s login information, as you may need it to access your part of the application.

Parents are required to submit their Social Security number and other identifying information to access their tax returns from the prior filing year.

The application also requires records of child support received, current balances of cash, savings and checking accounts and net worth of investments, businesses and farms.

The application for Indiana typically opens in October and is due by April 15 (Tax Day) for priority awarding. After the FAFSA form is processed, your student will receive a Student Aid Report. Once the financial aid package is finalized, IU

will automatically apply it to your student’s bursar, which you can find in One. iu.

Each semester, a bill will appear on your student’s bursar if they still owe any tuition or fees after aid and scholarships are applied. You can submit a payment directly on the Bursar page, but a credit payment adds an additional convenience fee. You can also set up a payment plan if necessary.

If your student has remaining credit after aid and scholarships are applied, they can transfer the funds to a bank account through the ‘Direct Deposit of Bursar Refunds’ tab in One.iu. Keep in mind that if

the award amount from aid is greater than the tuition cost, their aid package is subject to change.

You should complete the FAFSA form every year, even if your student did not receive aid the year

before. The form will also determine your student’s eligibility for student loans and work-study programs.

By Mia Hilkowitz mhilkowi@iu.edu | @miahilkowitz

Mailing address

The sender of a letter or package to a dorm must use the following format:

[Student’s name]

[Residence hall name]

[Building name, room number]

[Residence hall street address]

Bloomington, IN 47406

Example: John Doe

Teter Quadrangle

Boisen, Room 202

501 N. Sunrise Drive

Bloomington, IN 47406

Navigating mail and packages at IU

When your mail is delivered to your student’s dorm, they will need to pick it up at their residence hall’s center desk. Students will need to use their CrimsonCard to pick up any packages.

Sending mail

If students need to send a letter or package while living on campus, their best bet might be to visit the UPS store in the Indiana Memorial Union. At this store, students can purchase stamps, envelopes and more.

Most residence halls also have a place at the center

desk where you can place outgoing mail. You can visit a FedEx, UPS or USPS drop box. The closest drop box to campus is located at the Student Academic Center building on 408 N. Union St. You can also search the USPS website to find other Post Office locations in Bloomington.

Residence halls’ addresses

• Ashton Center: 1800 E. 10th St.

• Briscoe Quadrangle: 1225 N. Fee Lane

• Campus View Apartments: 800 N. Union St.

• Collins LLC: 541 N.

SHOP THE IDS

Woodlawn Ave.

• Eigenmann Hall: 1900 E. 10th St.

• Forest Quadrangle: 1725 E. Third St.

• Foster Quadrangle: 1000 N. Fee Lane

• McNutt Quadrangle: 1101 N. Fee Lane

• Read Hall: 125 S. Eagleson Ave.

• Spruce Hall: 1801 E. Jones Ave.

• Teter Quadrangle: 501 N. Sunrise Drive

• Tulip Tree: 2451 E. 10th St.

• Union Street Center: 445 N. Union St.

• University East Apartments: 1603 E.

REPRODUCTION POSTERS

Health and safety resources on and around campus

By Theo Hawkins sohawkin@iu.edu @bytheohawkins

Editor’s Note: This story includes mention of sexual violence.

Moving to college can be stressful for students, but it might be just as difficult for parents concerned for their student’s safety. Luckily, IU students have a lot of options when it comes to getting help, whether for health—mental and physical—or safety.

Safety and emergency resources

IU keeps students up to date on potential dangers and provides emergency guidance and updates through a mass communication system called IU Notify, which sends alerts through text message, phone and email. Students can update their contact information through Emergency Notification Settings in One.IU and choose how they prefer to receive messages. IU Notify is not available to the general public or parents on their own, but your student may add a parent or other person’s phone number and/ or email address if desired.

Students can also use the free RAVE Guardian safety app to receive IU Notify alerts, quickly contact 911 dispatch and campus police, send tips to police and access contact information for campus safety. Students can use the app to access wellness resources and set a timer to notify family and friends if they don’t make it home when expected. Users can also request family and friends to become guardians who can track their location.

The IU Ride app connects

students to safe rides within Bloomington city limits. It is a free service with unlimited use during operating hours of 7:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. IU Ride will take users home and to work with proof of employment such as an ID card or uniform but will not take anyone to a party or bar; IU Ride will pick up from parties or bars, however, whether the user is sober or intoxicated, no questions asked. Rides are limited to two passengers going to the same place. IU Ride also partners with Lyft to provide reducedprice rides within the service area between midnight and 1:45 a.m., up to eight rides per month, to students who claim the pass available through the IU Ride website. In case of an emergency, students should call 911. The IU Police Department can also be reached in a nonemergency capacity at (812) 855-4111. The Bloomington Police Department nonemergency number is (812) 339-4477.

Health resources

IU students have access to health resources through the Student Health Center. The center has a medical clinic, eye clinic and pharmacy. It also offers physical therapy, gender-affirming care, immunizations, allergy shots, sexual health services, nutritional counseling and substance use support. Most services are free or reducedprice to students who have paid the Student Health Fee; other fee, payment and insurance information can be found on the health center website.

Counseling and Psychological Services is located on the fourth floor of the Student Health Center. CAPS services are available to all students, at no charge to those who have paid the student health fee. Students seeking support can set a free 45-minute initial consultation appointment by calling (812) 855-5711 to determine a personalized care plan moving forward. Services include individual counseling, workshops, multicultural and LGTBQ+ support, support groups and the Sexual Assault Crisis Service.

A 24/7 crisis counselor is available at (812) 855-5711 by selecting option 1. Students who have experienced sexual assault can call (812) 8558900 at any time.

The IU Student Health Center is located at 600 N. Eagleson Ave. on the corner across from the Herman B Wells Library. Self-care resources and a full list of available medical and CAPS services, along with payment and insurance information, can be found at healthcenter. iu.edu.

The free TimelyCare app also provides mental health services at no cost to students who create an account using IU credentials, including selfcare resources and provider care.

Off-campus health resources

Students can also access emergency and non-emergency care at the following off-campus facilities:

• IU Health Bloomington Hospital: 2651 E. Discovery Parkway.

• Monroe Hospital:

4011 S. Monroe Medical Park Blvd.

• Bloomington Meadows Hospital: 3600 N. Prow Road.

• Bloomington Regional Rehabilitation Hospital: 3050 N. Lintel Drive.

• IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians: 1302 S. Rogers St.

• IU Health Urgent Care: 326 S. Woodscrest Drive.

Accessibility resources

IU’s Office of Accessible Educational Services can

help students with disabilities, based on each student’s individual circumstances.

The office offers resources including testing accommodations, computerized assistance, classroom accommodations, advising, priority registration and on-campus rides with an accessible van.

Students who require accessibility support should acquire documentation from medical providers before contacting the office. They can then visit the AES website at studentlife.indiana. edu/care-advocacy/iub-aes and fill out the request for

services form. Once accessibility measures have been discussed with an access coordinator and approved, students will receive an accessibility memorandum, which they should show and discuss with faculty and instructors. Students will also need to request to renew accessibility memoranda each semester.

The AES office is located in Eigenmann Hall 001, 1900 E. 10th St. and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students can also call the office at (812) 855-7578.

How to keep up with IU and Bloomington news as a parent

By Theo Hawkins sohawkin@iu.edu | @bytheohawkins

If you live far away from your IU Bloomington student, as many parents do, you may find yourself wanting a sense of what’s happening at the school and around town. If your student is anything like me, they may forget to tell you anything. Fortunately, it’s easier now than ever to keep your finger on the pulse, even if you’re on the other side of the world. Here are a few places you can turn to for updates.

Indiana Daily Student

The Indiana Daily Student is IU Bloomington’s student-run newspaper, covering all things campus and city news, IU sports and

arts. You won’t be able to find physical copies of the paper outside Bloomington, but you can still visit idsnews.com to see all the same stories. While you’re there, you may want to sign up to get IDS newsletters sent straight to your email inbox, such as the Weekly Update, which arrives every Friday, or the IU Basketball weekly season newsletter. The IDS also posts regularly on Instagram, X, Facebook and TikTok. Follow @idsnews to see the biggest headlines in your feed. If you prefer to listen to the news, the IDS hosts some podcasts as well. “Weekly News Rundown,” for instance, covers the top stories each week and can

be found on Spotify.

IU official social media pages

IU’s official social media handle across Instagram, X, Facebook and TikTok is @iubloomington. This is where you’ll find updates pertaining to the school as a whole.

Many IU programs and departments also have their own social media pages. @iustudentscentral is the official page for Student Central, which provides information on important dates and lots of photos. IU Libraries post updates on dates, resources and programs as @hermanbwells. You can also follow your student’s

individual school for more specific updates relating to their programs.

IU Newsroom and News at IU

IU releases its own news online and via email from the IU Newsroom. If you’re interested in updates about the school or stories about ongoing research and student work, you can visit news.iu.edu and browse News at IU’s archive of stories. To sign up for email updates, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Email Newsletters & Press Releases” under “Subscribe” in the page footer.

The Herald-Times

Those interested in

broader news about Bloomington and the surrounding area, including Bedford and Ellettsville, may also be interested in The Herald-Times, Bloomington’s local newspaper within the USA Today network. The Herald-

Times can be found online at heraldtimesonline.com. A subscription is required to read stories from the Herald-Times; an all-digital subscription starts at $1 the first month and $14.99 afterward, or an annual subscription for $89 yearly.”

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Upcoming season of IU sports in a nutshell

By Jonathan Frey jonafrey@iu.edu | @byjonathanfrey

The past half-century of IU freshmen have walked through the Sample Gates expecting two things: Greatness from the men’s basketball team and futility from the football team.

But for the past two years, those two sports have been on opposite trajectories.

A 2025-26 sports season full of surprises made for a rollercoaster for IU sports fans, and with massive turnover on nearly every roster, the upcoming season is just as unpredictable. Read on to learn everything you need to know about Indiana’s biggest sports this season.

Football

As you likely know, Indiana took home the national championship under the stewardship of burgeoning legend Curt Cignetti and the NFL’s first

overall pick quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The alltime losingest program in the country two years ago, Indiana football now struts into next season with backto-back ambitions.

Redshirt senior quarterback Josh Hoover will serve as a spiritual successor to Mendoza. The Texas Christian University transfer is a high-pedigree prospect who finished top three in the Big 12 in nearly all major passing categories in his two years as a starter. Like Mendoza, he doesn’t possess any freakish athletic attributes, but he’s an expert processor and decisionmaker.

The biggest worry for Hoover will be his turnovers, as he led the Big 12 with 13 interceptions. But Cignetti has a history of instilling discipline and eliminating careless mistakes in his players. After developing Mendoza into the NFL’s premier rookie talent, the sky

is the limit for Hoover. Indiana’s transfer class is filled with three and fourstar recruits, per 247sports, including former Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh and former Kansas State University edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi.

Look out for returning fan-favorite Charlie Becker, a deep threat receiver who made big catches during the latter half of last season as Mendoza’s favorite bail-out target.

Memorial Stadium serves as the home site for Indiana football, where the Hoosiers will open their 2026 season Sept. 5 against North Texas University.

Men’s basketball

Indiana missed the NCAA tournament for the third year in a row and the eighth time in 10 seasons. Darian DeVries’ inaugural season marked IU’s fourth head coach in that time period. Twelve players either

exhausted their eligibility or entered the transfer portal, leaving the roster nearly empty.

But a strong transfer portal class will look to end a decade of futility. Southern Methodist University transfer Samet Yiğitoğlu, who stands 7-foot-2, and 6-foot former Notre Dame point guard Markus Burton lead the way on 247sports’ fourth-ranked transfer class. DeVries also secured letters of intent from four-star high school prospects PrinceAlexander Moody and Vaughn Karvala.

Women’s basketball

The women’s team missed the tournament for the first time since 2018 after several key players graduated or transferred, leaving superstar Shay Ciezki and head coach Teri Moren with an untested young squad last season. Indiana lost 8 players total, including Ciezki, to eligibility restrictions or the

transfer portal at the end of the season.

But only a fool would distrust Moren, who boasts a 68% win rate in her time with the Hoosiers and made the NCAA tournament in seven of her 11 tournamenteligible seasons. She will coach the eighth-ranked recruiting class, highlighted by nationally ranked No. 25 wing Addison Nyemchek and No. 29 guard Gigi Battle.

Indiana will also bring in a modest but experienced transfer class highlighted by Nebraska transfer junior forward Jessica Petrie.

Both basketball teams play at Assembly Hall, and their schedules are yet to be finalized.

Baseball and softball

The baseball team struck out big in their latest season, finishing near the bottom of the Big 10 standings despite a preseason No. 5 projection.

The softball team, on the other hand, made the

1NCAA Division I Softball tournament, but fell to the University of Virginia to end its season with a 43-16 record.

The baseball team is led on offense by the sophomore trio of Caleb Koskie, Hogan Denny and Jake Hanley. Freshman Owen ten Oever came on strong in the second half of the season and will look to build on an allaround excellent campaign in his sophomore season. They play home games at Bart Kaufman Field, and will open their season next winter.

The softball team featured one of the most consistent and powerful offenses in the country, with all nine consistent starters batting over .300. Junior utility player Aly VanBrandt scorched opposing pitching to the tune of a .399 average and 15 home runs in the regular season. Andy Mohr Field hosts the Hoosiers during the regular season.

BRIANA PACE | IDS

1. Members of the Indiana football team celebrate with the College Football Playoff Championship Trophy on Jan. 19, 2026, after defeating the University of Miami 27-21 inside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The national championship matchup drew an average of 30.1 million viewers.

JIMMY RUSH | IDS

2. Then-senior forward Sam Alexis prepares to shoot the basketball during the game against Ohio State on March 7, 2026, at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. Alexis had 14 points in the game.

ALEX COIFMAN | IDS

3. Indiana softball players huddle during the game against Purdue on April 10, 2026, at Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington. The Hoosiers finished the 2026 season with a 43-16 record.

CHLOE LAVELLE | IDS

4. Then-senior guard Shay Ciezki takes a shot during the game against Nebraska in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 4, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Ciezki made 10 of her 20 shots.

ANYA MINEKUS | IDS

5. Then-sophomore infielder Will Moore hits the ball toward left field during the game against Iowa on April 25, 2026, at Bart Kaufman Field in Bloomington. Moore had one hit in the game.

IU-affiliated Nobel Prize winners: could your child be next?

By Andrew Miller ami3@iu.edu | @andrew_mmiller

IU’s status as a premier research institution over many decades has racked up several Nobel Prize winners, both faculty and alumni. Here are seven of the 10 universityaffiliated prize winners:

Philip H. Dybvig

Philip Dybvig is the lat-

est IU alum to get a Nobel Prize — receiving the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2022. He graduated from IU with a degree in mathematics and physics in 1976.

Some don’t consider the memorial prize, established by Sweden’s central bank, as a “true” Nobel Prize because it wasn’t in Alfred Nobel’s will. Regardless,

Dybvig got the prize for his research on banks and financial crises.

Elinor Ostrom

Elinor Ostrom got her Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2009 for research analyzing economic governance. Ostrom was the first woman to receive the prize and was a faculty member at IU for

nearly 50 years. She founded the Ostrom Workshop with her husband in 1973, an organization that still exists to this day. You can find her statue on a bench outside the south end of Woodburn Hall.

Renato Dulbecco

Renato Dulbecco is an Italian American virologist

who came to Bloomington after World War II and studied bacteriophages — small viruses that infect bacteria.

He later received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1975 for research on viruses that can cause cancer when infecting animals’ cells.

Salvador Edward Luria

Salvador Luria was an

Italian-American microbiologist who shared his lab with Dulbecco in Bloomington after fleeing World War II. He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1969 for discoveries relating to virus replication and their genetic structures.

Johannes Hans Daniel Jensen

Johannes Hans Daniel Jensen was a German American nuclear physicist who worked on the German nuclear energy project in World War II.

He was a visiting professor at IU for one year in the 1950s. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963 for research on the structure of atoms.

James Watson

James Watson is arguably the most famous IU-related Nobel laureate for his discovery of DNA’s structure. He was Luria’s first graduate student and completed his Ph.D. at IU in 1950.

He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962. He continued

research in the field. He later had a lengthy history of racist and sexist comments, not based in science.

Hermann Muller

Hermann Muller received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1946 for his research in X-rays, discovering that X-ray irradiation can induce gene mutations.

Right before receiving the award, he joined IU as a professor in Zoology.

2

1

3

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By Sophie Albert soalbert@iu.edu

COLUMN:

Indiana Univeristy’s Bloomington’s campus is gorgeous, and as someone who loves photography, it’s been a great place for me to get creative with my hobby. I’ve been able to play around with new framing techniques, experiment with photographing architecture and practice taking portraits through shooting my sister’s graduation photos on campus.

If you’re looking for a great photo opportunity — whether it is a picturesque scene or an iconic landmark — here are five of my favorite photo spots on campus.

Sample Gates

As a symbol of IU, not only is Sample Gates an iconic place on campus, but I also think it is just one of the many gorgeous campus structures.

The Sample Gates themselves offer great opportunities for headshots, as well as group photos. And the gates perfectly frame the bustling

Kirkwood Avenue, allowing anyone to capture Bloomington life.

Following the gate’s red brick road into campus are even more photo opportunities. There are some beautiful, old buildings such as Franklin Hall, Maxwell Hall and Kirkwood Hall worth checking out. Around these buildings are historic landmarks like Rose Well House and the Herman B Wells statue.

Showalter Fountain

Among IU’s most wellknown landmarks, the Showalter Fountain lays at the heart of the Showalter Arts Plaza.

I especially love this photo spot during the summer when the water is on. I think it’s a great place for portraits or capturing the landscape. I recommend checking it out at sunset when the sun sets perfectly down Seventh Street, which stretches out from the plaza, allowing the sun to frame itself beautifully by the fountain.

If you explore the area around the Fine Arts Building

and IU Auditorium, there are some great photo spots with colorful flowers and sculptures of prominent musical artists from Indiana, including Hoagy Carmichael and John Mellencamp. I highly recommend taking a seat by Carmichael, a Bloomington native, and snapping a fun shot with the statue.

Eskenazi Museum of Art

Located next to Showalter Fountain is the Eskenazi Museum of Art. This museum has many great galleries and exhibitions where you’re sure to find something worth taking a picture of.

Outside of the museum is the Light Totem, which casts an array of colorful lights up the side of the building at night. The tradition of lying on the floor with your legs against the lit-up wall offers another great photo opportunity.

This location’s hidden gem is a colorful window mural just beside the museum. It can be a little difficult to find, but if you go behind the museum there is an entrance to the Fine Arts Building. It is a

glass hallway decorated with a colorful abstract mural that can be seen from outside. I highly recommend using the distinctive artwork as a backdrop for taking photos.

Cox Arboretum

The Cox Arboretum is a beautiful area of greenery with many trees, a stream and the Metz Bicentennial Grand Carillon. While the Carillon looks like a tower, it is actually a playable musical instrument and another well-known campus landmark, adding a futuristic look to these photos.

The fairy-like stream and gazebo area create a magical setting for those who enjoy campus wildlife. I loved shooting some portraits for my sister’s graduation photoshoot here as it produced some whimsical and distinctive photos.

Third Street

I walk down Third Street practically every day to get to class, and I must say, it is one of my favorite streets on campus. It has many historic and beautifully crafted

buildings like the Biology Building, Swain Hall and the Mauer School of Law. I especially love Memorial Hall as I have had a lot of fun photographing different parts of the building’s castle-like appearance.

In the Biology Building’s greenhouse, you can take pictures of diverse plants from all over the world. Additionally, there are quiet green spaces by Merrill Hall that

have beautiful pink trees and squirrels roaming about. Overall, I’ve loved living on IU’s campus because at every turn, I find something that inspires me to take a picture. If you’re looking for some great photo spots to get started, the locations on this list are sure to inspire you, but I’m sure there are also plenty more hidden gems on campus that are just waiting to be discovered.

COLUMN: What I wish

my parents knew going into my first year

Here are four things your parents should know about your first year

By Hope Bernard hbernar@iu.edu

As a current IU sophomore, it is safe to say my freshman experience had some rough patches here and there. And had my parents known what I was in for, I think that coordinating my trips back home and contacting them would have been vastly easier.

Choosing the right dining plan

With three different meal options, finding the best choice is important in saving money while also keeping my stomach full. IU’s three options include the 7-day classic, the 7-day expanded, and the 7-day max. The jargon associated with meal plans made my decision very confusing. My family chose the 7-day expanded plan as a mere guess, questioning how valuable combo meals and dining dollars were.

In the first few weeks, I mainly ate at the all-youcare-to-eat locations. However, after finding my favorite dining locations such as the Lantern in the Indiana Memorial Union and poke bowls at Sushi King inside Read Residence Hall, dining halls became useless to me. My plan’s four combo meals and $250 of dining dollars a semester mostly covered my hunger needs.

Dining dollars is the amount of money in your dining plan which acts like a debit card at all campus locations. A combo meal, however, is limited to spe-

cific campus locations, allowing you to choose from a set menu of meals.

Move-in and move-out days

I wish my parents knew how stressful move-in and move-out days were. Living in Forest Quadrangle, the first thing residents became accustomed to was having only one operable elevator and another completely broken, which meant everyone had to transport their

dorm furniture and supplies up in one tiny elevator.

It was so bad that my family had to carry heavy storage containers all the way up six flights of stairs. I couldn’t imagine how people living on the 11th floor felt.

Finding parking and carrying carts became impossible, aggravated by the fact that nobody knew what they were doing. This fateful day started the semester off stressfully, further ampli-

fied by my parents’ angry commentary.

The real issue, when it came time to move out, was the amount of stuff I accumulated over the year. While driving back home the car was filled to the brim, much to my parents’ chagrin.

Learning the break schedules

I only returned home for a few breaks throughout the year, and it was my

became maddening since I was often scolded for letting them know too late when I was able to come back.

I recommend your student make a to-do list for finals week or any week leading to break, detailing all of their exams and assignments. This way they can see when their latest assignment or exam is, which in turn lets them know what day they can leave.

How busy I was

job to figure out when those times were through the academic calendar. However, my class schedule allowed for a level of flexibility for my departure date, since I could sometimes leave earlier than the first official day of break if I finished my inperson exams

Finding your departure date is really dependent on what your class schedule is like, instead of the main IU calendar. Constantly explaining this to my parents

I became really involved in a mixture of clubs, my jobs and video editing projects within my first year, way more than I had previously in my small high school. Not only was I juggling a job at a coffee shop and writing for the IDS, but I was also volunteering as an usher at the IU Auditorium and at several animal rescues. This left little time for me to connect with my parents and call them every day. Many times, I had to hang up early so that I could finish the schoolwork I needed to do. I wish I could have told my parents initially to prepare for the real-life distance but also the distance in availability.

Here’s one final piece of advice to parents of incoming freshman: this new journey entails a lot for you and your child, and giving support to them in this often-stressful life change is extremely important.

Prepare for the frightening move-in and move-out, and be aware that you might not see each other as much as you would like.

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Safe. Reliable.

Student-Only Transportation for Indiana University.

Catch-A-Ride

with Windy City Transportation

is the leading and most trusted student-only bus service, designed for Indiana University students.

We provide a dependable, thoughtfully managed transportation solution that gives parents peace of mind while ensuring students enjoy a smooth, comfortable travel experience.

It’s more than just transportation—it’s a service built on reliability, communication, and care, so your student is never far from home.

SEMESTER BREAKS, HOLIDAYS & LONG WEEKENDS

We run when your student needs to get home.

DIRECT ROUTES TO CHICAGOLAND & MERRILLVILLE AREA

Structured routes & convenient scheduled express service to the places that matter most. SAFE & RELIABLE TRAVEL

Professionally managed transportation company with Modern, comfortable motorcoach buses. Trusted by familes & students alike.