Clubs and Groups

Global passions

“I am really interested in everything,” says Audrey Muston, HLS Class of 2017. “After every course I took, I felt I needed to dive into it 100 percent and change to that degree program.”

If students like Audrey—passionately absorbed by the world and ready to learn and explore—sound like your people, come join us.

At HLS, courses and research are important. But it’s the HLS experience that’s irreplaceable. You’ll have the chance to dive into a language and culture and then take flight to the countries where it’s spoken. You’ll find internships and community service opportunities so that you can gain hands-on experience before you graduate.

During my time here, I’ve realized how much I’m committed to learning about the world.

Audrey Muston, Class of 2018, B.A., International Studies and Near Eastern Languages and Culture

Clubs and groups

The Eleanor Roosevelt Society (ERS), which is built and centered on empowerment, inclusion, and the promotion of women in the international studies field. 

ERS is the first organization of its kind—both at HLS and in the nation. Founded in August 2020 by two Hamilton Lugar students, Sophie Langfitt and Audria Hettinger, the society works to uplift the voices of HLS students and faculty on critical issues concerning diversity and inclusion in international politics and academia.

Like its namesake, the Eleanor Roosevelt Society is committed to the promotion of diplomacy and multilateral cooperation through international institutions. The society also offers a place for students to become vocal on current events and engage in discussion with their colleagues and peers.

To stay informed about upcoming meetings and events, follow the Eleanor Roosevelt Society on Instagram @ersindianauniversity.

Seeking Refuge's mission is to educate both students and community members about issues surrounding the Global Refugee and Displacement crises in order to foster and facilitate conversation and proactive behavior, as well as to organize aid and integration efforts for refugees on both a local and international scale. Some of past and current projects include organizing community outreach and fundraising events such as concerts and Room at the Table (a recurring event where students have the opportunity to share a meal with refugees who are currently living in Bloomington), sending supplies to non-profit schools in South Sudan and Kenya, and coordinating lecture series to educate students about a range of refugee-related issues.

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Women in Cyber Security is the premier organization with national reach dedicated to bringing together women in cybersecurity from academia, research and industry to share knowledge, experience, networking and mentoring. The IU Chapter has members from across campus and majors.

For undergraduate and graduate students)

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This group serves graduate students in their global and interdisciplinary research endeavors and career goals by connecting them to fellow students and resources that will enable their growth as scholars and practitioners. We welcome students working on global issues in any department, center, or school across IU.

For graduate students only

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The Middle East and Central Asia Music and Culture Club provides a venue to learn about music of the Middle East and Central Asia. Meetings feature a musician or musicians who share their knowledge and expertise of the art of singing and performing on both the eastern and western musical instruments. The club is open to anyone interested, although the numbers are limited. Contact Professor Shahyar Daneshgar for more information.

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Chinese Flagship Student Association (CFSA) is open to undergraduate members of the Chinese Flagship who want to connect with other Flagship students socially and professionally. We organize events for students to practice Chinese, develop their professional portfolios, and grow community within the Chinese Flagship.

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JSA strives to promote greater awareness and a deeper understanding of Japan to the IU community. JSA speaks for the Japanese community, welcomes diversity and cooperation with other student organizations.

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The Japanese Animation and Culture Club’s goal is to bring together people with similar interests regarding Japanese culture, including Japanese popular culture forms such as anime, manga, and more. Our club fosters an enjoyable atmosphere where engaging discussion about these topics can thrive.

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Aikido is a self-defense martial art emphasizing the continuous connection between the persons practicing a technique. Beginners always welcome.

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Samulnori is a type of traditional Korean percussion music. It’s open to any IU students who are interested in Korean percussion music.

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A student-led organization dedicated to the advancement and improvement of the Korean language for both beginners and advanced, undergraduate or graduate.

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ACES (the Association of Central Eurasian Students) is devoted to providing a forum for Indiana University students interested in and/or studying any region within Central Eurasia where Central Eurasia is defined as the historical and contemporary Afghan, Balto-Finnic, Hungarian, Iranian, Mongolic, Tibetan, Tungusic, and Turkic peoples, languages, cultures, and states. ACES liaises between the students and the Indiana University faculty and administration; provides an opportunity for students to gain experience in organizing and presenting at an international conference; and establishes a forum for contacts between colleagues who share interests.

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BaFSA’s goal is to promote Baltic and Finnish culture to the IU and Bloomington community through social activities and academic events. BaFSA aims to support and promote scholarly inquiry into Finnish, Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian society, history, culture, and languages and is open to anyone interested, including the general public.

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The Hungarian Cultural Association promotes Hungarian language and culture to IU students, faculty, and members of the Bloomington community and is open to anyone interested. We do so by hosting cultural events, commemorations of Hungarian holidays, and by holding weekly coffee hours.

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The Kazakh Student Association is a non-profit, non-partisan, secular organization founded to promote the positive image and awareness of culture and heritage of Kazakhstan within Indiana University and larger community. We also organize the Association members to participate in activities that benefit the members, Indiana University and larger community.

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The purpose of the Mongolian Students Association is to assist in promoting and furthering Mongolian culture, language, and history to the students and faculty of Indiana University as well as the Bloomington community. Open to all.

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The Romanian Studies Organization (RomSO) exists to promote scholarship and discussion on all issues related to Romania and to give IU students who study or are interested in Romania and Eastern Europe opportunities to advance their knowledge on these topics.

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Russian Language Cultural Association is a student organization that promotes Russian and Eastern European cultures on the IU-Bloomington campus and in the larger Bloomington community. In addition to organizing social events for its members, RLCA is actively involved in bringing various fairs, traditional events, and educational information to Bloomington and anyone who has interests in Eastern European culture, and/or Russian (Slavic) languages is encouraged to become a member.

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South Slavic Studies Association (SSSA) is a student organization whose aim is to celebrate and promote South Slavic and Balkan language and cultures at IUB. SSSA organizes co-curricular and extra-curricular events for its members as well as educational and cultural events for the wider IUB community with the purpose of promoting, supporting, and broadening studies of the Balkans and South Slavic languages and cultures.

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The Polish Cultural Association is a student group which aims to promote Polish culture at Indiana University which acts as a supplement to language instruction through the Polish Studies Center to promote cross-cultural interaction and understanding. We will provide tutoring services for students studying Polish language and culture, programming in line with both modern and traditional Polish holidays and observances, show modern and classic Polish film, read and discuss modern Polish authors, reach out to Polish members of the IU-Bloomington faculty and community, along with other relevant programs.

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The Ukrainian Studies Organization at Indiana University (UkrSO) exists to promote and celebrate Ukraine's language, culture and history at Indiana University and in the wider Bloomington and Indiana community. In addition, this organization will provide students with opportunities to showcase their work on these topics and to interact with other students, faculty, and staff who share their interest in Ukraine.

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