If you ask me, IU’s campus is haunted.
Not that kind of haunted — I don’t think I believe in ghosts. I’m talking about memories rather than poltergeists. Between a bachelor’s degree and a master’s, I’ve spent almost six years here, minus getting sent home during the pandemic and studying abroad in Argentina for one semester.
Walking around campus is an exercise in “that’s where ... happened,” from the time I took a shot of coffee syrup at the Cheshire Café to get my picture on its Instagram page (as far as I know, it never went up, unfortunately) to getting followed through Dunn’s Woods by a scarily persistent squirrel.
On Friday I’ll celebrate another graduation from what I think is one of the most beautiful university campuses in the country. As someone who has explored many of this campus’ nooks and crannies, I figured compiling a list of my six favorite spots at IU was a fitting way to say “goodbye for now.”
Inside spots
#1: The Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art
I love the art museum so much. Many times I’ve wandered around its galleries, taking in the landscapes in the collection of European and American Art or enjoying rotating exhibits like “Blanche Hoschedé-Monet in the Light.” The museum provided an opportunity to slow down amidst the chaos of being a student and just appreciate beauty.
Plus, the museum cafe is hands-down my favorite study spot on campus. Even on cloudy days it feels full of light, and the plants along the balcony make it seem like a cozy jungle.
#2: The South Lounge of the Indiana Memorial Union
Of course, the IMU was going to make it onto my list, but it’s specifically the South Lounge I’m thinking of. I’m a sucker for windows and wood-paneling; studying at one of the tables next to the windows overlooking the Starbucks section makes me feel like I’m in a library at Oxford.
#3: Beck Chapel
It was hard to pick between Beck Chapel and the first floor of Wells Library — I really love the views of the arboretum that you get in the West Tower — but I spent so many hours in Beck Chapel, praying with and for my friends, that it has a special place in my heart. It’s an oasis in the middle of campus, a place where even now I can stop and take a few minutes to remember that life and eternity are so much bigger than my student years.
Outside spots
#1: Cox Arboretum
When the sun is shining and the deep blue sky is full of fluffy white clouds, the Cox Arboretum is somewhere I could stay for hours, laying in the grass and breathing the fresh air. It’s open and tranquil and close to both the library and the art museum, two other spots I love.
#2: The Old Crescent
As a history enthusiast and fan of the architecture of buildings like Franklin Hall and the Frances Morgan Swain Student Building, I fell in love with the Old Crescent right away. The Sample Gates, the green of Dunn’s Woods and the charm of the Rose Well House are one of the first things to come to mind when I’m raving to others about how beautiful this campus is.
#3: The intersection of 10th Street and Woodlawn Ave
This sounds like a weird place to consider one of my favorites, but hear me out. Ever since living at the Collins Living-Learning Center my freshman year, looking out over Woodlawn Field has given me a thrill because it feels like campus is full of wide-open possibilities. I especially love this view at night, when the stadium-style lights turn the field almost neon green. That’s where I played in the snow during one of my first winters at IU, making giant shapes in the snow with my footprints.
I’ve loved my six years here at IU and have had so many good times on campus. Though it’s time to say goodbye for now, spots like these six are etched in my memory and are forever part of who I am.
