UVa Traditions and Lingo

Happy last day of Back to School Week, readers! In this blog, we’re covering

one of the most important things you’ll encounter coming to UVa: why is

everyone saying these weird words? At UVa, we have almost our own language

of words and terms that we say to each other. We want to share that lingo with you

so that you’re prepared to walk and talk like a Wahoo from day one!

The Big Ones

Wahoo: A Wahoo or Hoo is sort of our unofficial mascot, originating from when

opponents of UVa called Virginia fans “a bunch of Wahoos.” We took ownership

of the term, and still use it all over “Hooville” (UVa) today!

Grounds: Grounds is our fancy word for campus! 

Academical Village: The original design of UVa! Made up of the Rotunda, ten

Pavilions, and 54 Lawn Rooms, the Academical Village is the part of UVa that

was designed by Thomas Jefferson.

 

Academical Village and Lawn at UVa - via C-ville.com. 

The Lawn: The Lawn is the central part of UVa, which is made up of the original

design of the University. This is the green space between the buildings of the

Academical Village, and is essentially UVa’s “quad.”

Lawnie: Refers to the fourth-year students who live in the original Lawn Rooms

on Grounds. 

First, Second. Third, and Fourth-Year: We say this instead of freshman,

sophomore, junior, and senior. This is to refer to the idea that learning never ends

even after you leave the University, and that you are merely in your fourth-year. 

The College: UVa’s College of Arts and Sciences, containing most of our majors,

and students!

Map of Central Grounds at UVa - via virginia.edu.

Comm School: The McIntire School of Commerce, which is UVa’s undergraduate

business program. It is referred to as the Comm School instead of business because

the Darden Graduate School of Business was here first, and claimed the title of

business school at UVa.

A-School: UVa’s School of Art and Architecture.

E-School: UVa’s School of Applied Sciences and Engineering.

Curry: The Curry School of Education at UVa. 

Places Around Grounds

The Corner: The strip of restaurants and shops on University Ave., right behind

the Rotunda. This is where students spend a lot of their time outside of class to hang

out with friends, get food, or watch our sports teams during away games.

The Corner at night - via Charlottesville Guide. 

AFC: The Aquatics and Fitness Center, one of the main gyms at UVa, with a full

50 meter pool and the largest hot tub East of the Mississippi.

Mem Gym: Memorial Gymnasium, the oldest gym on Grounds!

JPJ: John Paul Jones Arena, where UVa’s basketball teams, including our NCAA

and ACC National Championship winning Men’s Basketball Team, play.

Our Championship winning team - via Roanoke.com. 

Old Dorms: The first-year dorms on McCormick Road.

New Dorms: The first-year dorms on Alderman Road. Read more about our dorms

in the last two blog entries: On-Grounds Housing - First Year and Beyond parts one

and two!

Other Fun Ones

The Good Old Song: Our school song! After we score at football games, after big

wins, or whenever Wahoos come together, we all link arms and sing out the Good

Old Song together. The words are easy to remember, and it won’t be long before you

know them all!

Fans cheering and singing at a football game - via virginiasports.com.

SIS: The Student Information System, the website where UVa students can enroll

for courses, check their financial aid, and handle other student tasks.
Collab: Another website for UVa students, but this one with course resources Here

you can upload papers, find your class syllabi, and look at anything else you may

need for class, including your grade!

CIOs: Our term for clubs. It stands for Contracted Independent Organizations, which

is to signify that all of our clubs here are started by students, run by students, and

funded by student council. 

Beta Bridge’s many layers of paint - via UVa Today.

Beta Bridge: A bridge on Rugby Road where students are allowed to paint

messages! You’ll see messages informing people of upcoming events on Grounds,

elections, or of big milestones for UVa and our CIOs. 

We hope this guide will help you feel a little more at home here at UVa! As always,

let us know if you have any questions at all. We’ll see you back at Hoostories next

week, but until then!

Signing off, 

Abby S.