The Most Beautiful Campus in the World
We admit we’re a little biased. But when you see IU’s 1,933 acres of beautiful flowers, trees, and green spaces, and our Collegiate Gothic buildings constructed from local Indiana limestone, you’ll understand why we believe our campus is the best. After all, Thomas Gaines named IU one of five most beautiful college campuses in his book The Campus as a Work of Art. Every year, hundreds of students and families tell us how much they love our grounds. Once students lay eyes on IU, they can’t imagine going anywhere else.
The Kelley School is right across the street from the Arboretum, an expansive lawn with a pond, hundreds of trees, and a gazebo and benches for relaxing and reading. Just west of the Arboretum is Woodlawn Field, with an outdoor running track and a large open space that’s perfect for playing sports—whenever our recreational classes and club sports aren’t using it, that is. Do some reading, play Frisbee or catch, or catch a concert in Dunn Meadow, and take a refreshing walk through Dunn’s Woods, a mini-forest that’s home to a generous portion of IU’s sizeable population of friendly squirrels.
Just down Tenth Street from the Kelley School, the Herman B Wells Library houses the majority of IU’s extensive collections. (Don’t believe the urban legend about the library sinking an inch each year from the weight of the books.) The library’s Information Commons is a sprawling technology center with 350 computer workstations (including many group workstations), wireless access, and computer consultants available to answer questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you need food (or caffeine) for thought, stop by the library’s cafe or food court, where the menu includes pizza, sandwiches, frozen yogurt, and smoothies.
The Indiana Memorial Union is the social center of campus. The Union offers something for everyone: a food court; a Starbucks; a recreation center with a bowling alley, billiards, and video games; several comfy lounges; a computer lab and wireless access throughout; the IU Bookstore; a computer store; tasty treats at Sugar & Spice; banking; a UPS Store; upscale dining at the Tudor Room (a great place to go with family); even a place to get a haircut. The Union is also home to the Indiana Memorial Union Board, which plans events and activities for the whole campus, like rock concerts, hilarious comedy shows, and world-famous speakers.
On the north and south sides of campus, you’ll find rows of fraternity and sorority houses. Greek life is big at IU. We have 62 fraternities and sororities, including social, service, and special interest groups, that are very involved on campus, particularly during Little 500 and IU Sing, an evening of singing and dancing to raise money for student scholarships.
IU’s campus and buildings are full of lounges, benches, nooks, and crannies that are perfect for studying or relaxing. We’d tell you where to find them, but it’s much more fun when you discover them for yourself.
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