By Mickey Makai, Vice President for Relations, 116th Union Board
The 116th Indiana Memorial Union Board had a great spring semester filled with tons of fun events in the heart of campus. Check out the highlights and learn more about each event below!
January
From Page to Stage featuring Sandy Rustin
At this exclusive screening of the 1985 film Clue, students enjoyed a moderated Q&A with Sandy Rustin, the playwright behind the acclaimed musical Clue—providing IU students the chance to learn what it takes to bring a Broadway musical to life!
Party for the Pasifika: Workshops and Kanikapila Dinner Celebration
In partnership with the Pacific Islander Student Association, IU Student Government, IU Diversity, and IU Native American and Indigenous Studies, Union Board hosted a week-long celebration of Pacific Islander culture led by world-renowned practitioners. This week of cultural celebration and partnership ended with the Kanikapila Dinner, where hundreds of students, staff, practitioners, and community members shared a meal while enjoying live performances and demonstrations.
New Year, New You
Brought to you by Mind & Body, Union Board hosted a vision board party where students crafted vision boards to inspire them going into the new year. Craft supplies were provided to students at no cost, providing an accessible crafting experience.
Escape Room Trip
A free escape room experience for IU students drew a line out the door. Students spent an evening off campus honing their deduction, investigation, and escape artist skills.
February
BKB Dance Competition 2025
Bloomington Ki Badtameezi, presented by Union Board, represents IU’s second intercollegiate Bollywood dance competition, drawing Bollywood dance teams from various colleges to compete at IU over a weekend. The event drew 400 attendees, including IU students and teachers, residents of the Bloomington community, and friends and families of the participating teams.
Jewelry Workshop
For students who love beads and shiny things, Canvas’ jewelry-making workshop brought in over 70 students to share a crafting experience. Union Board provided all the supplies necessary to make rings, bracelets, and necklaces so the whole student body could get blinged out.
Flower Bouquet Workshop
Over 100 students visited the Georgian Room in the IMU to craft their own flower bouquets just in time for Valentine’s Day. The event drew a crowd and quickly gave away every last flower to the students in attendance.
Cupid Shuffle
Union Board’s Social Impact committee joined forces with Women of Color Leadership Institute (WOCLI) and the NOIR Creative Guild to bring an unforgettable night of dancing and fun to Neal-Marshall Hall on Valentine’s Day. This event featured food, dancing, and music while supporting the American Heart Association!
Queens and Kings: Chess Tournament
Students from across campus came together to compete in a Valentine’s Day-themed chess tournament in partnership with the IU Chess Club. The event went on to receive a sponsorship from Chess.com, the world’s largest chess company, which provided prizes to the tournament winners in the form of year-long Chess.com subscriptions and rare merchandise.
A Conversation with Coach Cignetti
Over 500 students visited IU Auditorium to hear from NCAA Football Coach of the Year, IU’s very own Curt Cignetti. In a partnership with IU Student Television and Student Athletic Board, student football reporters had the opportunity to lead the interview and provide exclusive backstage coverage.
March
IU vs. Purdue Women’s Basketball Watch Party
Led by Spirit & Traditions, students came together to watch the IU vs. Purdue Women’s Basketball game in the Maple Room at the IMU.
Men’s Basketball Tailgate
Over 150 students visited Union Board’s Basketball Tailgate at the IU vs. OSU basketball game. Students enjoyed arcade basketball, pong, free pizza, and UB swag.
Color Theory Workshop
Union Board STEM and Canvas hosted Hues & You with Dr. Karen Gunther, an acclaimed researcher of the psychology and biology behind color. Students viewed optical illusions and tried their hand at experiments during this colorful experience.
Sew it Begins! (Sewing Workshop)
For this event, Union Board partnered with Bloomington Fine Art Supply to bring our first-ever sewing lesson. This free workshop taught students to hem their pants, sew a button, and fix their clothes. All supplies were provided free of charge, and students got a free sewing kit to take home courtesy of BFA Supply. The partnership resulted in campus-wide news coverage after the Indiana Daily Student interviewed the BFA Supply owner regarding the successful community collaboration.
Pi Day Friday
Over 230 students celebrated Pi Day with Union Board STEM at Sugar & Spice on March 14. Students received free pie and learned about opportunities to get involved at the Union.
Advocacy Through Art: A Conversation with The World with MNR
Union Board collaborated with the Pakistani Student Association, Middle Eastern Student Association, and African Students’ Association to host Human Rights Without Borders, an iftar event featuring a powerful conversation with Pakistani-Canadian twin activists Maryam and Nivaal Rehman. (Iftar is the meal that Muslims eat at sunset to break their fast during the month of Ramadan.) The pair discussed human rights issues in Pakistan and their connections to challenges in the Middle East and Africa. The evening also included a mushaira (poetry reading) and a meal featuring Pakistani, Middle Eastern, and African cuisine.
Sounds of Change
Social Impact proudly presented Sounds of Change, an event centered around women and their impact on music throughout history. Students attending this event learned about female artists while making their own CD playlists to take home a fun, vintage souvenir.
Minorities in STEM Night
This STEM partnership event filled up Alumni Hall with 10 minority-led STEM clubs, major STEM companies like Deloitte and Simtra, and over 80 students there to network, connect with employers, and learn about careers in the STEM industry. The event was fully funded in partnership with the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering.
IU Athletic Tours
Spirit & Traditions worked hard to give students an exclusive inside look at the facilities that make IU Athletics the sports powerhouse it is. Students visited Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Live with Jake Shane!
In collaboration with Live Nation Entertainment, Union Board co-promoted “Live with Jake Shane!”, a comedy show featuring world-famous TikTok star, podcaster, and comedian Jake Shane. This event drew over 2,300 students to IU Auditorium for a night of laughter and live entertainment.
Tiny Couch Concert
This year, Tiny Couch Concert came to Collins LLC in the Cheshire Cafe for an intimate acoustic concert hosted by Live from Bloomington and Music Industry Creatives. Students enjoyed local music, fresh coffee, and great vibes during the indie experience.
Blacked Out & Bold
Canvas Creative Arts hosted this blackout poetry night to give students the opportunity to make beautiful poetry by selectively covering words in this unique fashion. All supplies were provided, and students brought their own imagination, making the night one to remember.
April
Dear Evan Hansen
In partnership with IU Auditorium, Union Board co-promoted the production of Dear Evan Hansen. In addition, the Board paid for 40 students to attend this incredible Broadway performance, increasing accessibility in the process.
Sexual Assault & Violence Awareness Tabling
In partnership with IU Student Government and the Office for Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Advocacy, Union Board’s Mind & Body committee set up in the heart of the IMU to spread awareness regarding sexual assault and violence prevention.
Full Bloom
With our partner organization Smash at IUB, Union Board presented the second-largest Super Smash Bros. e-sports tournament in the world! The entire Super Smash Bros. franchise has sold over 77 million units worldwide, making this event the pinnacle of a global phenomenon. Over 600 individuals from dozens of states and countries competed, with hundreds of students attending to watch. Out of the 10 greatest players in the world, eight competed, including the #1 ranked female player.
March Madness Watch Party: Men’s & Women’s
Over two days, Union Board screened March Madness watch parties in the Union at the Main Stage. Dozens of students sat to watch, and many more stopped by to check out the big games!
Skincare Event
During this event, students from across campus visited the IMU to take a scientific approach to their skin, learn from a skincare expert, and make their own lip balm. The event was sponsored by Bloomington Skin Care & Acne Clinic, which provided a dermatologist and free samples for students to take home after the event.
Bloomington Entertainment Summit
Union Board presented the first IU Entertainment Industry Conference. This event brought together top IU alumni and industry professionals for an exclusive look inside the world of entertainment. A partnership with the Business of Music Club, the Business World of Entertainment Club, Kelley Student Government, and the Business World of Hollywood, this event brought together many student organizations for a developmental experience for all students in attendance.
Relax and Renew: Yoga Class
Mind & Body brought a yoga expert to teach the skills students need to center themselves with yoga and meditation. Free snacks, mats, and instructions were provided.
Science Fair
Our largest partnership event of the year was the winner of this year’s Best Small Event Award. The STEM committee’s Science Fair brought over 12 student organizations and multiple IU departments to Alumni Hall for an afternoon of incredible experiments, such as Tesla coils, foam explosions, VR experiences, and physics demonstrations.
Storytelling Uncovered featuring Angela Jackson-Brown
Union Board brought the award-winning author behind Untethered, When the Stars Rain Down, and more for an exclusive lecture and book signing with Union Board and the IU Bookstore. Students received a free signed copy of her book, heard from the author, and got free food at this intimate book talk.
Water Festival
In countries like Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, the new year is celebrated in April with food, fun, and water. Union Board hosted the Water Festival to celebrate and honor the people and cultures of Myanmar. Given the current circumstances in Myanmar, including the devastation caused by the March 2025 7.7 magnitude earthquake, many Myanmar people across the world are heartbroken. This year, instead of focusing solely on celebration, Union Board and its partner organizations wanted to bring deeper meaning to the Myanmar New Year, known as Thingyan, by standing in solidarity with Myanmar and providing support where it is needed most. Even though the event was moved inside due to weather, over 100 students joined this year’s celebration.
Cricket Watch Party
The IMU hosted students to watch the Chennai Super Kings take on the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League’s most legendary rivalry. Attendees enjoyed free food and an exciting match during the event.
Earth Day Lattes & Paper Making
To celebrate Earth Day, the STEM committee partnered with IU Hospitality to give out free matcha lattes to students outside the IMU. Students enjoyed their lattes while making paper the old-fashioned way, demonstrating sustainable skills during Mother Nature’s favorite holiday. Nearly 200 students attended the event.
Little Little 499
In this classic spoof of the Little 500 bike race, over 50 students raced tricycles around Showalter Fountain. Many more students enjoyed watching the event while partaking in free cookies and snacks brought by the event’s corporate partner. IU’s own Vice Chancellor for Student Life, Dr. Lamar Hylton, kicked off the race with an inspiring speech, leading to an afternoon of high-speed fun.
April Showers Bring May Flowers
Union Board partnered with the Student Involvement and Leadership Center to bring an afternoon of food, fun, and flowers to IU students in Dunn Meadow. Nearly 300 students enjoyed the event, wrapping up the spring semester with a day on the lawn.
May
Bob Ross Paint Along
Nearly 100 students participated in this year’s Bob Ross Paint Along. With all supplies provided, students painted alongside a video of the legend himself, Bob Ross, leaving with their own scenic creation.
Almost Midnight Breakfast
One of our biggest events, Almost Midnight Breakfast, won this year’s Best Large Event Award. During this late-night event, over 1,000 students enjoyed a full-course breakfast, caricature artists, psychic readings, plushies, trivia, massage chairs, lawn games, live music, and more!
Hypnotist: Chris Jones
To conclude the semester, Union Board hosted a crazy event with world-renowned hypnotist Chris Jones. As seen on America’s Got Talent, Chris brought his hypno-talent to IU and engaged over 100 students at the event. Even a few Union Board directors got hypnotized during this bizarre, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The 116th Board is looking forward to hosting more exciting events this fall!
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