There are plenty of fables and legends infused within Indiana University’s rich history, and the story behind the Indiana Memorial Union is one of them. Most historians point back to the story of one underclassman whose mission to unite the fraternity members and independents rivals the entire
Revenge of the Nerds saga.
In the early 20th century, there was a biting tension between students, whether they were freshmen or sophomores, fraternity brothers or independents. John Whittenberger, an underclassman in the class of 1911, noticed this and began to search for a means to unite the student body as one under the Indiana University ideal.
Whittenberger quickly gained support from faculty members, including President William Lowe Bryan, in building the “men’s union” in 1909. It was established that meetings and other social activities would take place in the Student Building, and it was quickly decided that the first Union Board would be lead by Whittenberger himself.
Nearly a decade later, talks began over new additions to the property, including a stadium, a hall for women, and a “building with a large auditorium.” A Memorial Fund Drive was created in 1921 to finance such operations, and these visions were to become Memorial Stadium, Memorial Hall and the Indiana Memorial Union, respectively. It took another decade to gather the plans and make appeals, but in 1932, an official announcement was made at Commencement. On June 13, the construction of the Indiana Memorial Union was dedicated to “the sons and daughters of Indiana University who had served in the wars of the Republic.”
Through the years, the Indiana Memorial Union has been shaped to fit the growing student body for which it was built. The Union Board was finally opened to women in 1952, combining with the Association of Women Students.
The Indiana Memorial Union’s first Director, Ward Gray Biddle, was a key player in establishing the building’s roots. So it was only fitting that the first important addition to the building be named after him, The Biddle Continuation Center. The center was completed in 1960, and created plenty of area for conferences and seminars. The behemoth addition consists of 186 guest rooms and 50,000 square feet of meeting space.
Yet another colorful addition was bestowed in 1986, The Commemorative Garden. The garden includes 800 bricks with the names of various students and alumni who graciously donated them. Its prime location in front of the hotel’s lobby entrance is a vibrant addition to the Indiana Memorial Union’s East entrance.
Currently, the Indiana Memorial Union is the second largest student union in the country and one of the largest in the world. Whether catering to students as a studying space, a place to rest between classes, or a conference center for professionals, the Indiana Memorial Union combines aesthetics and utility to unify the Indiana University campus.
Source: Indiana Memorial Union - Bloomingpedia
Source:Indiana Memorial Union
Photo Credit: Kagan Tuncay
Hoosier History: Indiana Memorial Union
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