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The University of Iowa: so much more than the #1 Party School
Photo courtesy of now.uiowa.edu
My Twitter and Facebook feeds have been abuzz the last few days over the Princeton Review ranking the University of Iowa as the #1 party school in the country.
I enjoy “going out” as much as the next student, and I’m proud to call the University of Iowa my home. But with the buzz about our party status, many people lose sight of (or simply overlook) the fact that Iowa has so much more to offer than bar crawls and house parties.
I recently read this article written by an Iowa student for Cosmopolitan and I was less than impressed for numerous reasons, the biggest being how inaccurately it represents Iowa as a whole while propping up negative stereotypes that are mostly untrue. I want to shed some light on the other great activities that Iowa has to offer besides just drinking.
Movies
Every weekend, the Campus Activities Board plays a different movie for $3 in the Iowa Memorial Union. Usually they’re movies that are just out of theaters, such as The Great Gatsby slated for later this month. Their schedule can be found here.
The Bijou Theater, also in the IMU, plays movies most weekends as well. Normally they’re more indie flicks or horror movies, but generally admission is free and the movies are another good alternative if you’re stuck on something to do.
Concerts
Scope Production hosts several concerts throughout the year, usually in the IMU Main Lounge. I saw Childish Gambino and Fun. my freshman year and both were easily among the best concerts I’ve been to. They host various genres of musicians, and you can find their line-up and all relevant information here.
Sporting Events
This one might seem a little counterintuitive, since tailgating here can be pretty crazy and partially contributed to our spot as #1 on the party school list, but sporting events can be really fun-even when you hold the alcohol. I like sports, and I like knowing what’s happening during a game while I’m watching it and cheering on my favorite team. Iowa Football games are a fun experience, especially with the camaraderie that the student section facilitates. I’ve never been to an Iowa basketball game, but attending one is on my list for this coming year. Other sports such as women’s basketball or gymnastics offer fairly cheap (sometimes free!) admission and are also a fun way to spend an evening.
If those options aren’t appealing enough, the University of Iowa also offers a wide range of intramural sports, clubs, and activities; there’s certainly something for everyone if you take the time to look and give new things a shot. There’s an activity fair every fall that showcases many different ways students can get involved.
There are plenty of ways to get involved and numerous things to do that don’t revolve around drinking. I am and always will be proud to be a Hawkeye, and I can’t wait to take advantage of all Iowa City has to offer once school starts again this fall.
Aug 7, 2013
