Welcome to the I Association!
We're proud to honor the IU athletics tradition.
The I Association is made up of letter-winning IU alumni and is one of only two athletic alumni associations in the country managed by its alumni association.
When you're a part of this group, you've got four things to look forward to:
- ACTIVITIES – Clevenger, Grotke, and Orwig Award banquets, 50- and 25-Year Reunions, Football Tailgates and Annual Golf Outing, appearances around the United States
- COMMUNICATIONS – website, merchandise, and media with worldwide recognition of our athlete alumni;
- HISTORY – letterwinner stories, to capture and communicate our rich association legacy for those whom we leave to protect and promulgate;
- MEMBERSHIP – to drive and develop membership for their benefit and that of Indiana University!
We get together to enjoy and sponsor activities that benefit Indiana University, the IU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, and the IU Athletics Committee. The association’s projects and activities will always be consistent with the constitution and bylaws of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the rules and regulations of the Big Ten Conference, IU administrative directives, and directives of the IU Athletics Committee, its faculty representative, and faculty chairperson.
The Constitution of the I Association governs our work.
The I Association story
I Men
Excerpt from 1914 Arbutus
Prior to the Indiana vs. Illinois football game last fall, a number of former university athletes met at the Claypool Hotel in Indianapolis and formed a permanent organization of the I Men. Every athlete who had ever received a university monogram was made a member. The purpose of the organization is to bind more closely together the men who had battled for the cream and crimson and to render service in various ways to present-day athletics in Bloomington. The organization has been, even in this short short time, a wonderful success; the interest shown by the men who wore the cream and crimson for the last time, has been remarkable. The organization has a broad field of usefulness before it, which it is speedily setting about to fulfill. Carl Endicott is president of the I Men, Dr. C. J. Sembower, vice president, and George M. Cook, secretary.
I Women
The I Women’s Association began in 1982 and was officially recognized on February 15, 1990. This was the first formal recognition of the athletic accomplishments of former female varsity athletes. Membership was open to all female student athletes who hadbeen awarded a varsity letter during their time at Indiana University, even if they had participated prior to the official awarding of "I" awards.
I Association brings us together
In 2006, the president and CEO of the Indiana University Alumni Association, in consultation with the director of Athletics, made a recommendation to merge the I Men’s and I Women’s Associations into one entity. It was determined that one association, rather than two, would bring even greater strength in representing student athlete alumni. In January 2007, the two groups officially merged.
