An Oral History of IU

What does IU mean to you?

Alexis Morales, an intern with the Office of the Bicentennial, always makes a point to end her interviews with this question. A senior at IU Northwest, Morales is part of a team that is capturing IU’s story by collecting the oral histories of IU alumni, faculty, and staff.

“Acceptance,” said Anthony Partacz, BS’16, in answer to Morales’s question.

“It’s my second love,” replied Eva Mintz, BS’67, MS’70.

“When I think about IU, I think of the spirit of discovery, the spirit of challenging yourself, the spirit of just becoming a well-rounded and educated person,” said Rahsaan Taylor, BA’10.

In these responses—some of Morales’s favorites—we see the intertwining of the individual and Indiana University. One without the other, and neither would be the same. The story of Indiana University is a story that never ends, written across generations by each and every person touched by IU.

I hope that this oral history project confirms that Indiana University as a whole is changing lives.

The interviews will eventually be digitized and made public as part of IU’s 200th birthday celebration in 2020. Morales’s vision for this collection? “I hope that this oral history project confirms that Indiana University as a whole is changing lives.”

Visit blogs.iu.edu/bicentennialblogs to read more voices from the IU Bicentennial.

This article was originally published in the fall 2018 issue of Imagine magazine.