Hey everyone! Hope you all had an awesome Fourth of July -- whether you celebrated patriotically (for those of you in the US) or just had another normal day (for those of you throughout the rest of the world!).
Morgan here with another ~fascinating~ post from the admissions office. This time, I've created a guide to help incoming first
years (YAY!) with some of the lingo we use here at UVA.
It may seem daunting at first, but don’t worry – you’ll
catch on quickly. Soon your friends at
other schools will look at you in pure confusion as you try to describe to them
all the fun you’re having as a first year Hoo eating in the Pav on Grounds in C’ville. (Was that even English?)
Variations of this list have been published before, but it’s always nice to have a refresher. I’ve included all the essentials, plus some other
popular abbreviations that have appeared since Instagram became a thing.
So, without further ado, I present:
MOPAT'S GUIDE TO GETTING NEW WAHOOS HIP WITH THE LINGO
Wahoo – Unofficial
mascot of UVA. Legend has it that in the late 1800s, UVA was playing Washington and Lee in a game of baseball, and the
UVA fans (in true Cavalier spirit) were getting a bit rowdy. Washington and Lee fans, looking for a #quality
burn, started referring to the UVA crowd as a bunch of “wahoos” – ouch, am I
right? The name stuck, and is now the unofficial mascot of the University of
Virginia.
‘Hoo or Hoo – Variation of wahoo. Source of several terrible puns, i.e. “Hoos
ready for the weekend!? Hoo wants to do homework with me!? Hoo wishes I would
stop using this pun!?”
(JK, long live the puns!)
Wahoo wah! – Battle
cry of the Wahoos. To be shouted as part
of the following chant, fist pumping a la Jersey Shore, upon the conclusion of the
Good Old Song:
Wahoo
wah! Wahoo wah!
Univ-v-Virginia!
Hoo rah ray! Hoo rah ray!
Ray, ray, UVA!
This series of wahs and hoorahs are an excellent way of
expressing your excitement at sports games or any other time you want to show a
little bit of school spirit. (In a
grocery store parking lot as a Tech fan scowls at your UVA bumper sticker, for
example.) You’ll want to have this memorized before your first game.
Good Old Song –
UVA’s school song, sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. To be sung arm in arm with those around you
at the conclusion of any game, when the football team scores a touchdown, when
any relatively sentimental event (Lighting of the Lawn, Convocation,
Graduation, etc.) comes to an end, or if you need an excuse to get nice and
cozy with the cutie from your math class.
(It’s like the “movie move,” only more UVA!*)
Lyrics are as follows:
The good
old song of wahoo wah, we’ll sing it o’er and o’er
It cheers
our hearts and warms our blood to hear them shout and roar
We come
from old Virginia where all is bright and gay
Let’s all
join hands and give a yell for dear old UVA
You’ll want to learn this one too.
*Not guaranteed to work. But, like, probably??
Old Cabell – One
of three buildings constructed on the South end of the Lawn during the Stanford
White renovations of 1896. Now the home
of a cappella performances, fancy paintings, and the music library. Quite bougie.
Pronounced “Old CAB-uhl.” Not “Old
cah-BELL.” Made that mistake several
times when touring UVA. SMH.
NOVA – Northern Virginia,
where approximately 99% of UVA students originate (JK, but you will meet a
bunch of people from here during the first few weeks of school. As a Pennsylvania resident, I thought of
Villanova at first; my New Jersey roommate thought for a hot second that it was
Nova Scotia. Both of these guesses were
quickly proven false.) PSA: SOVA (Southern Virginia) is NOT a thing.
First, Second, Third
and Fourth Year – UVA’s names for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors,
respectively. The idea supposedly stems
from Jefferson, who believed that there was no end to learning. He believed that “fourth year,” for example,
better described students in their final year of study at UVA because they could
never truly be “seniors,” as that term implied that their education was over
upon the completion of their degree.
Alternatively, this lingo makes us sound more similar to students at
Hogwarts, which is obviously a plus.
Grounds – UVA’s
version of “campus.” I’ve heard that the reasoning behind it is similar to that
behind the first through fourth year thing, as Jefferson believed that “campus”
was a restrictive term that implied that learning stopped outside of University
owned land. I’ve also heard that “Grounds”
better suggested the beauty of the land owned by the University. Not sure which,
if either, are true – but if anything, it makes us even more Hogwarts-y, so I’m
into it.
Lawn/Academical
Village – The original University of Virginia, with 10 pavilions and 54
student lawn rooms surrounding a central Rotunda. Frequented by dogs, Charlottesville residents,
and students alike. Excellent spot to
eat Bodo’s, take basic Instagram pictures, pet aforementioned dogs, chill in a
hammock, throw Frisbees, or simply enjoy the beauty of Grounds.
Lawnie – A
student who resides in one of the Lawn Rooms.
Usually has cured cancer, solved world hunger, or something of the
like. Super extra awesome person who is
capable of living without a kitchen or personal shower. Stinky? Perhaps. Hungry? Maybe. Committed to the people and traditions
of the University of Virginia? Undoubtedly.
Rotunda –
Jefferson’s “temple to knowledge” that served as the University’s first
library. Recently renovated to become a
place that students walk into instead of past. Excellent place to listen to *NSYNC while
completing calculus homework and marveling at the historical awesomeness of
this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alternatively
and affectionately known as Roto, Tundy, and Tunda.
C’ville –
Charlottesville, in cool kid language.
Home of UVA, awesome food, great hiking, a thriving arts and music
scene, and so! much! more!
The Corner – Hub
of student life in Charlottesville and within a short walk of Central
Grounds. Home to cute shops, delicious lunch
and dinner options, and student night life. Not actually a Corner. Sad.
Rugby Road – Location
of several IFC fraternities. Young men
in navy blazers and khakis will emerge from the cracks in the sidewalk of Rugby
during boys’ bid day.
JPJ – John Paul
Jones Arena, home of UVA basketball and several concerts throughout the
year.
The Pav – There
may be ten pavilions on the Lawn, but the eleventh pavilion, or Pav XI, is the
home of a Five Guys, Chick Fil A, and Subway.
Ha ha ha, I see you @peoplewhonamethings. Clever.
O’Hill – Short
for Observatory Hill Dining Hall, a popular first year option located in the
New Dorms area and home to ice milk, or the most delicious thing to ever be
offered at the University of Virginia.
Newc – Short for
Newcomb Dining Hall. Popular dining spot
for both first years and upper class students who will befriend you in order to
mooch off of your unlimited swipes.
Runk – Dining
hall located near the Gooch/Dillard residence area. Farther away from both Old and New Dorm
areas, but has ah-MAZING mac and cheese and continuously plays fire music. Definitely check it out during your first
year.
Croads – Short
for Crossroads, the food court area located on the ground floor of O’Hill. Also has a convenience store and is open late
in case you get the late night munchies.
Dumps – Not what
you think, ya nasties! Short for dumplings served at the Got Dumplings food
truck. Using your meal plan’s plus
dollars to get some “dumps in the amph” (amph = amphitheater) is a classic
first year move. 10/10 recommend.
Libs – Short for
libraries. As this term is often texted
(“yo are you in libs??”), there is heated debate over whether the word is
pronounced “libs” or “libez.” Umbrella
term that also covers Clem (Clemons Library) and Aldy (Alderman Library).
AFC – The Aquatic
and Fitness Center, home to the largest hot tub on the east coast (amazing!)
and where many a first year will get #swole during their time at UVA. Features tons of weights, an indoor track,
stationary bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, medicine balls, and sweat.
Hope you learned something new, whether you are an incoming first year trying to understand those conversations going on around you during the first weeks of class, or a prospective student who needs some help deciphering your tour guide's slang.
Now, to test your skills, translate the following:
Signing off from C'ville... wahoo wah!
