The best thing about IUP is probably the way the campus looks during the autumn and spring seasons. The Oak Grove, which is the center of the campus, is so inviting when the weather is warm. The colorful leaves of the trees hang over and fall on the students as they walk by, and when the weather is warm enough, friends will sometimes gather in the Oak Grove to spend time with each other. Some will throw frisbee with one another, and some, surprising as this may sound, will act out World of War Craft and various other activites of the sort. Everyone is just happy when it's warm and spending time together in the Oak Grove.
Anything unusual about IUP? Yes, there's an abundance of squirrels roaming around. Every now and then while walking through the Oak Grove, an acorn will fall on your head. I like to believe the squirrels throw them at us, but we all know it's just them rustling through the trees......right?
For me, the size of IUP is just right. It's not too small, but it's not overbearing either. You can get from point A to point B by walking, some walks may be longer than others, and several housing options are generally located pretty close to campus. It's first come first serve, though, so you have to sign for a place quick if you want the best options.
When I tell people I go to IUP, most automatically think about the stereotype of it being a party school. Some adults seem impressed and happy to hear of another student enrolled in college. (It's when I tell them what my major is that their faces look almost confused because most people don't know how many options there really are for a journalism major.) Other adults don't seem phased because IUP is not a really prominent school like Yale or Harvard. But I think it depends on your attitude about where you are attending. If you apply yourself and work hard, you can get just as good an education as a Yale student. Several success students come from IUP.
I try to spend as much time on campus and in the library as I can these days. I am a fifteen minute walk from campus from my apartment, and with all the breaks in between my classes, it is a pain to walk back and forth all the time in the dead cold winter, not to mention the walk is usually always icy during these months. I will either go to the library in between classes to do homework, or I will run other errands if I need to. During the week and weekends on my free time, I will go to some friends' houses or to my boyfriend's place to relax and hang out. Other than that, I am in my apartment, hanging out with my roommate and realizing that I will not get work done unless I go to the library. Thus, my nights during the weekdays also usually end up at the library.
I believe IUP is what is keeping Indiana alive. There are several small businesses located around this area, but many of them do so well because of the college students. For example, Sheetz, the bars and a local food favorite of the students, Pita Pit (a pita and gyro place) would not be as successful if it were not for the college students, especially the bars. This college pretty much makes the town what it is.
I think everyone is always going to have something they'd change about their school. I think I would improve the main food diner, which is like a buffet where everything is on your meal plan, and the types of food you can get at the other diner options on meal plan. They do not give you many options and you end up having to pull out some cash in order to pay for the rest of your meal. Also, I'd change some of the registration's building policies. Sometimes the desk workers "helping" the student is not so friendly and only adds on to your stress. Other times they tell you you are in the wrong building, and when you end up going to the building they directed you to, those desk workers also tell you you are in the wrong building. It's just a crazy mess of confusion, and they need to get their information straight.
The last biggest controversy we had on campus was deciding whether or not the campus police should be allowed to carry guns. So many articles were covered on that, and I completely understand and agree with the concerns. Another controversy that is continually rising under the surface of frustrated parents and college students not as financially stable as others are the new dorms they are building. IUP has been trying to expand its campus by improving the buildings and updating the dorms. While this is all nice and dandy, the new dorms cost about $2,000 a semester per student, and that is not even for the suites. A four person non-sweet is around $3,000 or so a semester. It is just ridiculous, and I'm just glad I'm not a freshman. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't care simply because I'm over halfway to graduating.
I think school pride exists on campus, but I believe it could be improved. I am not one to talk because I do not attend any sports events, although I think about doing so all the time. I just never seem to have time, and I never know when the events are taking place; I'm sure this is a problem with other students as well.
One experience I'll always remember is attending an event at IUP's Hadley Union Building where William Hung played, and they had bouncy boxing and blow-up twister available for people to particpate in. Some food was available, like popcorn and cotton candy, and games were also played like putting a condom on a cucumber while having "beer goggles" on.