The fifth annual IU Day celebration was canceled March 17 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement on the IU Day website.
Originally scheduled for April 23, this year's celebration was in honor of IU’s Bicentennial. But because of the rapid spread of the coronavirus, the 200th year of the university will be forced to go without planned events.
IU Day staff still encourages students to celebrate the university from home and suggests reaching out to past professors, roommates or IU friends and posting memories online of IU friends and experiences.
“IU Day as an official, 24-hour event has been suspended this year,” according to the statement. “But we can still stand together, support one another, and affirm the bonds of the IU family.”
In the past, IU Day has consisted of a 24-hour celebration on all seven IU campuses. IU-Bloomington and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis have had events like mascot bake-offs, IU trivia and philanthropy-themed scavenger hunts.
The day also encourages alumni, parents, students and staff to share their appreciation for the university by wearing their pinstripes, posting their own parties online with the hashtag #IUDay and donating to the IU Foundation.
In 2019, more than $93,000 was raised through online fundraisers with about $18,000 for student scholarships.
"We have every hope that the IU Day Party will resume next year," according to the website.
