Bloomington 101

The college life depicted in “Old School” and “Animal House” doesn’t also have to be your life. Though rampant pleasure-seeking is certainly a guiding principle for some students, others prefer mimicking a four-year version of Roman military strategy: Come, see and conquer. Then there are those precious few students who decide to spend their time (and parents’ money) wisely. You’re talking about the next four years of your life, so you’d better make it worth your while.\nFirst of all, embrace Bloomington as your new home. Many students come not to study, but to rape, pillage and burn. Many neighborhoods look like Haitian shantytowns, except that the inhabitants are not poor or downtrodden – they are just hooligans. Instead of recycling, they throw beer cans all over the lawn. Instead of walking Bloomington’s short distances, they speed down narrow streets in their enormous SUVs, threatening the cyclists and pedestrians with whom they share the road. These hooligans simply refuse to respect Bloomington’s temporary and permanent inhabitants. But this can be avoided if you realize you are not just here to play, but also to live. So don’t contain yourself within the four walls of your dorm room; expand your horizons. \nWhen you get here, make sure to sample Bloomington’s wonderful restaurants. This town probably has better food than any other city in Indiana. My favorites are Upland Brewing Company (for delicious beverages for those of age and fries), Little Tibet (for superb Tibetan, Thai and Indian cuisine), Roots (for amazing vegetarian options) and Mother Bear’s (for the best pizza in the state). \nNote: Chain restaurants are for losers.\nAnd if you love movies and music, Bloomington has several great local music venues, record stores and movie theaters. Read the local Bloomington publications (which are free and widely available!) like “The Ryder” and “The Bloomington Alternative” to find out what’s happening, where it’s happening and how to get there.\nThinking disparaging thoughts about south-central Indiana is a bad mistake. I often hear people say things like, “Bloomington’s nice, but whoa! Once you get outta town, you’re in Hicksville.” Actually, Brown County, just south of Bloomington, is the most beautiful area in the state. Rolling hills and valleys, voluminous trees and small farms fill the landscape like those described in a Robert Frost poem. Be sure to hike in the state park during the fall when the leaves are changing – the views are stunning. Bloomington is certainly a cultural capital of this otherwise rural part of Indiana, but there is a lot more to see. \nFinally, I want to address school life. College should blow your mind. If you’ve done it the right way, you will leave with more curiosity about the world than you brought. Whatever your major, you will have requirements to study outside your intended area, so take courses that grab your interest. For instance, I took a Russian course my sophomore year that I loved, and it altered my life’s path. Believe me, IU has tons to offer. Take advantage while you can.\nGood luck this upcoming year