Indiana University: More than a party

This is the one page of the newspaper where you tend to find a lot of complaining. And this semester you can count on us to point out what needs to be improved. But amid all the complaining, we love this place, too. As the stampede of students return to campus, remember that IU and the surrounding Bloomington community have a lot more to offer than just the bars on Kirkwood Avenue and Walnut Street or the basketball team. In between unpacking, studying and drinking, take a little time to check out the unique activities and attractions of the area.\nWe can't overlook one of the most important things in life: food. Sure, it's fun when the caped Pizza Express guy throws Tootsie Rolls and condoms at you, but the dining scene in Bloomington also involves food that doesn't come in a square box. Just off of campus, clustered in the Fourth Street area, are many restaurants offering tastes from all over the world, including Thailand, India, Tibet and Italy. They always say college is about experimentation. So if you get tired of alcohol, sex and drugs (basically all things rock 'n' roll), new and exciting spicy food is just around the corner.\nNext in line after food is entertainment. You probably know that IU has a world-class music school. But what you might not have realized is that many of those musicians have public performances all the time, right on campus. And the best part: It's usually free. If you're cheap or just enjoy music, free classical guitar recitals and jazz concerts make a great date. Check out the Jacobs School of Music Web site (www.music.indiana.edu) for its schedule of performances.\nAt an institution of higher education, it might come as no surprise that opportunities to learn are everywhere, even outside of the classroom. Classes cost money, but you can check out the museums in the area for free, no textbook required. The Mathers Museum of World Cultures, located on 416 N. Indiana Ave., hosts several changing exhibits, sometimes put together by graduate students. The museum also offers a permanent collection of 20,000 objects and 10,000 photos. Items on display range from musical instruments to clothing.\nIU's Art Museum, located at 1133 E. Seventh St. (you know, the angled building with the big, red circle thing in front), is another opportunity to see cool stuff for free. The building, partly designed by world--famous \narchitect I.M. Pei, houses pieces of ancient history and work by artists you might have heard of like Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso.\nWe won't use clichés like "rich tapestry" and "melting pot" to describe the IU-Bloomington experience. But now you know your chance to be enlightened and cultured is out there (and at a cheap price). So keep your eyes open for the unique opportunities that surround you.\nAnd now back to our regularly scheduled complaining.