As No. 5 Indiana prepares to host No. 4 Ohio State in a Big Ten football matchup at Memorial Stadium, the campus highlights its deep institutional commitment to the armed forces. The university maintains a visible connection between its athletic programs and military service, a relationship rooted in physical monuments and a century of recorded history.
Outside Memorial Stadium, anti-aircraft guns and the mast from the USS Indiana stand as tributes to Indiana residents who have served in the United States military. Inside the Memorial Student Union, the university preserves the Golden Book, a fragile document dating back to 1898. Housed in a clear plastic box to protect its condition, the book lists names of veterans and donors to IU’s Memorial Fund. According to Indiana University, the fund sponsored the construction of Memorial Hall, Indiana Memorial Union, and Memorial Stadium.
The initiative began when the Indiana Daily Student published a list of students and staff who served in the Spanish-American War, followed by a compilation for the Civil War. The handwritten entries now span nearly two centuries of American conflict, from the early nineteenth-century engagements through the Second World War. In 2016, Indiana University launched a digital version of the Golden Book, which now lists more than 25,000 names.
Vasiliios Koultourides, a senior at Indiana and member of the Indiana National Guard, first encountered the book during a high school campus tour. He described the room housing the book as resembling a small chapel and noted that seeing his potential place in the record affirmed that service is remembered. Zainab Diouf, another Indiana National Guard member and student at the university, described the record as unique among schools and encouraged her peers to visit it.
The university supports these military-connected students through its Center for Veterans and Military Students. The center provides assistance with benefits, funding, scholarships, and career guidance. Koultourides said the space allows students to study and connect with peers who share similar deployment experiences. He emphasized that this support helps veterans continue their education while acknowledging their service.
Military involvement is also integrated into athletic events. Most Indiana athletic teams hold "Salute to Service" games each season. Military students and veterans participate in various capacities at football games, including running color guard units and assisting cheerleaders. Following touchdowns, military students perform pushups and fire a cannon on the field. Koultourides noted that ROTC members often cheer from the field alongside cheerleaders.
Koultourides stated that the university demonstrates gratitude for community service by allowing military students to remain fully engaged in student life. He described the experience as an opportunity to participate in IU's athletic culture while being recognized for their contributions to the country.