Indiana University’s Memorial Stadium sits near anti-aircraft guns and a section of the USS Indiana, including its mast. The displays commemorate Indiana residents who served in the U.S. armed forces. Their presence was part of the backdrop as the No. 5 Hoosiers, described in the source as defending national champions, prepared to host No. 4 Ohio State in Bloomington on Saturday.
The university’s remembrance also includes the Golden Book, a handwritten record kept in a dedicated room at the Indiana Memorial Union. Dating to 1898, the book is now preserved in a clear protective case. Its pages record veterans as well as donors to the university’s Memorial Fund, which supported construction of Memorial Hall, the Indiana Memorial Union and Memorial Stadium.
The initiative began with the Indiana Daily Student, which published names of people who served in the Spanish-American War. A later effort recorded Civil War service. According to the university information cited in the account, the book’s handwritten entries cover alumni who served in conflicts ranging from the War of 1812 and the Black Hawk War to World War I and World War II. Indiana began a digital version in 2016; the report says it now contains more than 25,000 names.
Two Indiana students who serve in the National Guard described the memorial and campus culture as meaningful. Senior Vasiliios Koultourides said the university treats military personnel with respect. He recalled seeing the Golden Book during a campus visit while still in high school, saying the records conveyed that veterans would not be forgotten.
Student Zainab Diouf called the book distinctive and encouraged people at the university to visit it. The report does not independently compare memorial practices at other schools.
Indiana also has a Center for Veterans and Military Students that provides help with benefits, funding, scholarships and career guidance, according to the account. Koultourides said the center offers a place to study and connect with others who have military experience, including people returning to school after deployment.
Military-connected students also take part in university athletics. The account says many Indiana teams hold “Salute to Service” games during the season, while military students and veterans participate in events such as color guards and other game-day activities. At football games, military students perform pushups after touchdowns and fire a cannon. Koultourides said those opportunities help students feel that the university appreciates their service.
Together, the physical memorials, the Golden Book, student services and game-day roles represent several ways Indiana University recognizes veterans and students with military ties. The report frames that commitment within the football rivalry, but its focus is the university’s year-round remembrance and support rather than the game’s result.
