What’s a Hoosier? and other IU must-knows

By Haripriya Jalluri hjalluri@iu.edu

Illustrations by Juliette Albert julalber@iu.edu

As an out of state student, my family and I knew very little about Indiana University upon my admission. One of the first things that my mom asked me about Indiana was “what’s a Hoosier?” And, along the way, there were some other notable must-knows regarding IU and Bloomington that we had to learn ourselves.

Indiana Hoosiers

To answer the first question my family had: what is a Hoosier? This term is used to describe someone from the state of Indiana; however, there is no clear history for how or why Hoosier came to be the Indiana resident nickname. A popular theory, as shared by the Indiana Historical Bureau, is that the word Hoosier is derived are referred to as the “Indiana Hoosiers.” In the past, IU did have animal mascots — the most notable being the bison — but as of now, there is no mascot to represent Indiana University. Since calling collegiate athletes Hoosiers caught on, current students and alum of IU have also adopted the nickname.

Sample Gates, the edge of campus

I toured the IU campus in 2019 with my parents around the time when IU admissions was reviewing my application. Reflecting on my tour now, it surprises me that we were not led to the picturesque Sample Gates. The Sample Gates are made of limestone and sit on the edge of campus and Bloomington’s downtown. According to Visit Bloomington, the gates are named Sample after the parents of Edson Sample, who financed the gates’ construction. The gates are an iconic part of the IU campus, although they were only con- structed in 1987. Since its creation though, the gates remain a popular spot for students to take their first day of school photo — and, in four years, to take cap and gown photos with family.

Kirkwood Avenue and Fourth Street

Leading into downtown Bloomington from the Sample Gates is Kirkwood Avenue. In the warmer months, segments of the street are made pedestrian only and many town events — such as the Pride Festival and the Lotus Festival — take place here. Kirkwood Avenue is home to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Monroe County Public Library, affordable school merchandise shops and an array of some of the most popular Bloomington restaurants. Adjacent to Kirkwood Avenue is Fourth Street, home to authentic ethnic restaurants and host of the annual International Food Festival. If you are looking for a place to take your college student for dinner, then Kirk- wood Avenue and Fourth Street are the spots to go.

Showalter Fountain, the center of campus

The center of the IU campus is the Showalter Fountain. It is a traditional bucket list item for students to place their feet inside the water of the fountain — whether this happens freshman or senior year. But as the center and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, the IU Auditorium, and the Lilly Library. This part of campus is a must visit with your college student — or somewhere to go while they are in classes — whether that is admiring European art in the Eskenazi Museum, watching a show at the auditorium or perusing rare books and manuscripts at the Lilly Library.

Little 500: An annual bike race

Indianapolis might have car racing, but Bloomington has bike racing. During the third weekend of April, Bloomington hosts the largest collegiate bike race according to the IU Student Foundation. The race is two days long, with women competing on Friday and men competing on Saturday. Student teams spend months training to ride and, just like in the Indy 500, must qualify before being able to race during Little 500 weekend. The 2024 races will take place on April 19 and April 20 at the Bill Armstrong Stadium. Don’t be surprised if you and your college student bump into bikers training throughout the semester. They go so fast that you might miss them!

Candy striped pants and overalls

In 1971, the Indiana men’s basketball team wore candy striped pants during warmups. This small change in training attire trickled into a staple piece of Indiana fashion, becoming one of the most well-known pieces of clothing associated with the university and its sports teams. The crimson and cream that make up

The Indiana Daily Student

The IDS is the place for campus and Bloomington town news. Located in the Media School right next to the Sample Gates, the IDS newsroom is independently staffed and managed by students. An award- winning publication, the IDS has been providing news (including breaking coverage) to the Bloomington community for over 150 years. Along with news, the IDS publishes columns, cultural pieces, investigations and more content daily online at idsnews.com and releases a print paper on Thursdays. Newspapers can be found across town and campus. In addition, the IDS also publishes an array of special publications, including the annual Housing Guide detailing on and off campus housing options and tips for college living — which certainly helps alleviate parents’ concerns about off campus housing.