IU, pop culture, government have changed since IU freshmen were born

The year 1990 ushered in the beginning of the last decade of the 20th century.

It was the year that brought us Polly Pocket, Vanilla Ice and “The Simpsons.”

And, it was also the year many students in the class of 2012 were born.

While the names and faces are different, some parts of college never change.

Like current IU students, the class of 1990 held candlelight vigils, not for 9/11, but for the students killed in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

They dressed up for IU Sing, obsessed about basketball and Bobby Knight, learned to share a residence hall bathroom with 25 other people and partied during the “greatest college weekend,” Little 500.

But just remember, in the words of one of 1990’s most popular artists, “nothing compares 2 U.”

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IU-Bloomington                                               
Total enrollment             
Then: 34,863                
Now: 38,990

In-state tuition          
Then: $67/credit hour          
Now: $3,684.15

Out of state tuition    
Then: $202.85/credit hour    
Now: $11,952.95

Government
President            
Then: George H. W. Bush       
Now: George W. Bush

Cost of gas           
Then: $1.16/gallon         
Now: about $4/gallon

Minimum wage    
Then: $3.80         
Now: $6.55

Popular TV
Comedy
Then: “Seinfeld”       
Now: “The Office”            

Drama
Then: “Beverly Hills, 90210”   
Now: “Grey’s Anatomy”

Actor
Then: David Hasselhoff in "Baywatch"       
Now: David Hasselhoff in "Knight Rider"

Billboard Hot 100       
No. 1
Then: “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips              
Now: “Whatever You Like” by T.I.

No. 2
Then: “It Must Have Been Love” by Roxette
Now: “Disturbia” by Rihanna

No. 3
Then: “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor
Now: "So What" by Pink

No. 4
Then: "Poison" by Bell Biv Devoe
Now: “Forever” by Chris Brown

No. 5
Then: "Vogue" by Madonna
Now: "Paper Planes" by M.I.A.

Academy Awards presented (for pictures released the year before)
Best Motion Picture of the Year
Then: “Dances with Wolves”    
Now: “No Country For Old Men”

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Then: Jeremy Irons         
Now: Daniel Day-Lewis

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Then: Kathy Bates         
Now: Marion Cotillard

Other popular movies:        
Then: “Pretty Woman," "Home Alone" and "Edward Scissorhands
Now: "The Dark Knight," "Sex and the City" and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”