All Union Board alumni who served at least one full term as a director, an assistant director, or a committee member on Union Board are members of JWS, the John Whittenberger Society. JWS, an official Indiana University Alumni Association affiliate, was named after John Whittenberger who in 1909 founded the Indiana Union, which later became the Union Board.
Contact the John Whittenberger Society
For the latest from JWS, check out the John Whittenberger Society blog.
1982year founded
750+members
$100Kin scholarships
Registration coming soon!
Fall for the IMU all over again...
Please note that the official dates are October 10–12, 2025. We originally communicated a different weekend, but then the football schedule changed (Biennial Reunion is not during a home football weekend).
We can't wait to see you this fall!
Stay at the IMU's Biddle Hotel for the Biennial Reunion.
The John Whittenberger Society was established in 1982 to serve as a formal alumni organization for Union Board. In 1985, it became an official affiliate of the IU Alumni Association.
In addition to helping alumni stay connected to Union Board and to each other, the society plays a key role in providing financial support to Union Board and the IMU. Since its inception, it has:
I enjoy giving back to help the next generation of students learn leadership skills and apply them in the real world.
Christian Carroll, UB 1990
The John Whittenberger Society is led by an advisory board composed of eleven voting members who serve staggered four-year terms. The board also includes several ex officio, non-voting members including a representative from the IU Alumni Association, the current president of Union Board and the executive director of the Indiana Memorial Union. There are three executive officer positions on the board: president, vice president, and secretary-treasurer.
The board is responsible for establishing policies, filling officer and/or board vacancies, interpreting and implementing the John Whittenberger Society’s constitution, and maintaining relations with the IU Alumni Association, the IU Foundation, and other related IU organizations. The board meets at least twice annually.
