Saturday Sept. 28, 2019, Indiana University Auditorium was host to guests from all over the state, country and world as President Michael A. McRobbie opened the Bicentennial Ceremony and discussed IU heading into it’s third century.
Indiana University Provost Lauren Robel, Chancellors and Trustees also greeted guests as well as local and state government. The audience listened to the Indiana University Philharmonic Orchestra perform and viewed a short archive video.
Attendees heard motivational speeches from alumni U.S. Representative Susan Brooks, actress Tan Kheng Hua from “Crazy Rich Asians” and witnessed Straight No Chaser debut their new song “Indiana, We’re All for You.”
Over 10 days Indiana University campuses kicked off the celebration. Some festivities included, IU Kokomo unveiling a new IU Historical Marker for the campus’s 75th anniversary, the launch of the Bicentennial Traveling Exhibit, the “Big Red Bus,” which will tour Indiana until August 2020 and the 11th running of the annual IUPUI Regatta.
Celebrations on the Bloomington campus began in Franklin Hall on Sept. 26, with the IU Press Bicentennial Book Launch to release three Wells House books: “The Lilly Library from A to Z,” “The Spirit of Generosity” and “Indiana University and the World.”
Other events included the Collections and Heritage Showcase and the Outdoor Festival. The Outdoor Festival gave guests the opportunity to shoot hoops in the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall while watching IU Football go up against Michigan State on the big screen, listen to band, Fat Pockets and jump on 10,000 square foot bounce house.
On Jan. 20, 2020, Indiana University will hit the historic milestone. Then, Jun. 1-6, 2020 the Bicentennial Alumni Reunion will be hosted.