THE INDIANA DAILY STUDENT. Bicentennial Edition
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
1820-2020
BLOOMINGTON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020.
Happy bicentennial, IU LETTER FROM THE EDITOR The school that would eventually become known as Indiana University was founded Jan. 20, 1820, in Corydon, Indiana, as the State Seminary. I don’t know if the founders believed the school would last — in whatever form — for 200 years, but it is still incredible to think this institution has been here for so long. IU’s cream-and-crimsonstreaked history has touched the world in more ways than many of us even realize, from fluoride toothpaste to Steak ‘n Shake. It is impossible to know what will be added to IU’s legacy by the students who are here today or those who will come after us, but we can only hope the next two centuries will be as good as the last. Being here in this moment, able to witness such a big milestone, is a wonderful reminder that each one of us is also part of IU’s history. The IDS is celebrating IU this coming week by taking a look back at what has happened over the past two centuries to see how the campus, its people and its ideas have evolved over time. Our Thursday paper, with the orginal IDS masthead design, is a special commemorative edition filled exclusively with content examining IU and its 200year history, from a selection of notable alumni to what places on campus used to look like. We will continue to update online content as bicentennialrelated events take place Monday, so you can see the celebration no matter where you are in the world. Happy birthday, IU. Here’s to many more.
ALEX DERYN | IDS
IU’s Metz Carillon Bell Tower stands Jan. 14 in the IU Arboretum. The bell tower will ring for the first time at 11:45 a.m. Jan. 20.
IU Bicentennial events honor university’s history By Cate Charron catcharr@iu.edu | @catecharron
The Office of the Bicentennial has planned A Day of Commemoration to honor the university’s 200th anniversary Monday. The university has been determined to grow since its founding, IU Spokesperson Chuck Carney said. He said building for the future includes working to develop new areas of study and schools within the university. “It’s really been more than a celebration, but a look backward at what we achieved and a look forward in what we plan to achieve,” Carney said. The bicentennial is an important way to recognize IU's history, University His-
Lydia Gerike Editor-in-chief
torian James Capshew said. Diversifying the narrative is still a work in progress, though. It requires uncovering stories focused on women, minorities and staff. “IU’s history is part of their identity,” Capshew said. “So trying to understand that, how it’s developed, and where it’s going to be in the future is really what the Bicentennial is about.” Here are five events taking place on A Day of Commemoration. Big Red 200 Supercomputer Dedication Ceremony The ceremony commemorates the Big Red 200 Supercomputer at 10 a.m. at the Cyberinfrastructure Building. The event includes a reception, tours of the data
center and opening remarks from President Michael McRobbie and three other speakers. The event will be live-streamed at broadcast.iu.edu. Inaugural Ringing of the Arthur R. Metz Bicentennial Grand Carillon The carillon will ring for the first time at 11:45 a.m. in the IU Arboretum. Members of the Jacobs School of Music will play the instrument. The carillon includes 65 bells and will replace the tower on 10th Street and Fee Lane. 200th Anniversary Luncheon This invite-only luncheon will unveil SEE EVENTS, PAGE 6
Medals designed to showcase IU's past and future By Luzane Draughon luzdraug@iu.edu | @luzdraughon
IU’s Bicentennial celebrates individuals and organizations who have positively contributed to the institution throughout its history. Approximately 1,500 crafted Bicentennial Medals themselves have their own significance, honoring those improvements. “Anyone who receives a medal is getting a piece of IU history,” Hackerd said. The Bicentennial Medal is a physical representation of the reach of IU’s impact on the local, global and international community, assistant professor of Architecture Jeeyea Kim said. “I was really lucky and fortunate to be a part of this project,” Kim said. Kim worked on designing the medal from spring 2018 until summer 2019. She said her vision for the design was to take a contemporary approach that would encompass both the past and the future of IU’s reach in the world. There was an open competition any faculty member, student or artist from around the world could
enter, Kim said. The committee received around 30 designs, Jeremy Hackerd, project manager for the Bicentennial, said. The committee didn't know who made the design when choosing, Kim said. When designing her medal, Kim said she first focused on the context of Indiana and how IU is central to everything in the states. Kim said she wanted to show the connected network of IU through a ripple effect on the medal with IU-Bloomington as the starting point. Kim said her favorite aspect is how the side of the medal is not flat, but follows the texture of the surface. She liked how the light reflects on the medal, showing off brighter and darker spots. “The medals are beautiful and really well-crafted,” she said. The Bicentennial Medals are cast from the bronze recovered from the bells that used to be a part of the Student Building, Hackerd said. The bells were damaged in a 1990 fire and sat instorage for decades. Hackerd said Indiana Metal Craft melted SEE MEDALS, PAGE 6
Jan. 20, 1820
1825
Indiana’s state government founds Indiana University as the State Seminary. Construction was stalled IU ARCHIVES by the Plat Map debate over Seminary from 1820. whether Vincennes University (Indiana Territory’s public university) or IU should become the state public university. IU won, and construction began in 1822.
Classes first begin at IU. There were only 10 students, all of them men. The campus was originally located in Seminary Square Park near the corner of Second Street and College Avenue.
SARAH ZYGMUNTOWSKI | IDS
A Bicentennial Medal sits on the counter Jan. 15 inside Franklin Hall. The medal was cast from the bronze recovered from the bells of the old Student Building.
1829
1830
1835
1838
The first class graduates:
The Wylie House was constructed at 307 E. Second St. It is now a museum run by the IU Libraries where people can visit to see Wylie family artifacts and other exhibits.
The legislature changes the school’s name for the final time. The name went from Indiana College to Indiana University.
-James Wilson Dunn -Michael Hummer -James S. Rollins -William Hamilton Stockwell
Andrew Wylie becomes the first president of IU.
Preparatory Department is established, which lasted until 1890. Construction of First College building started at Seminary Square.
FILE/ CHRIS PICKRELL | IDS
The Wylie House