Indiana Memorial Union

HISTORY 

In the year 1909, the Indiana Memorial Union started as the Indiana Union (originally in the student building). College student John Whittenberger started the IMU because fights were breaking out and he wanted to foster a better sense of community at the college. At first, it was only open to male students where they could play pool, watch silent movies, and occasionally host dances. Years later in 1921, they had a fund drive to construct a new building and to honor IU community members who served in war. The construction started in 1931 and the building was finished in 1932. This building served as a central hub for students. After they finished the building, they added a bookstore in 1939. Years later in 1952, they allowed women into the IMU.  Afterwards in 1960, the Biddle Hotel and Conference Center were added. In 2010, they had to renovate to modernize the facility.

ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY

The IMU is so important to the community and here's how.  The IMU is 500.000 square feet, seven stories tall, and one of the world's largest student unions. At the IMU, you can reserve a room in order to study. You can get clothing, food, books and more. In the IMU, they collaborate with places like The Rose Well House and countless others . In total they have 17,000 events a year! 

You can also stay there with your family thanks to the Biddle Hotel (it was named after Ward Gray Biddle, who was the very first IMU director). They have conference rooms and IU student government offices where more than fifty student organizations rely on the spaces. More spots to visit in the IMU are the Vault Pub, a restaurant called  the Tudor Room, the bowling alley, and the movie theater called Whittenberger Auditorium. 

They also have a massive Art collection that showcases famous and notable Brown County artists from over the years in the  art collection they have TC Steele art work. They have 75 TC Steele paintings who was a famous impressionist painter, many paintings depict campus over 100 years ago. They also made the Union Board Films, the longest running college film series having been going on since 1914.

In the current day you can find the Golden Book which is a list of veterans of wars. It is inside the Memorial Room on a golden mantel from a Roman palace. There are 152 pages, with 25,000 handwritten names. It lists IU alumni who served in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, the Mexican Border Expedition, World War I, and World War II.