Words / Phrases to Know
Jump To...
4 A B C D E F G H J K L M O P Q R S T U V W
- 40, The:
- South 40; The complex of Residential Colleges located on the forty acres south of campus where most new students live.
- AAA (Triple A):
- Asian American Association
- ABS:
- Association of Black Students
- AC:
- Athletic Complex; WU’s state-of-the art fitness and recreation facility.
- Academic Mentor:
- WU peer tutor through Cornerstone
- ALAS:
- Association of Latin American Students
- ARC:
- The technology resource center located on Level A (the bottom level) of Olin Library.
- ArtSci:
- Slang referring to the College of Arts & Sciences.
- ArtSci Lab:
- The College of Arts and Sciences computer lab located in the basement of Eads Hall.
- ASA:
- African Student Association.
- Ashoka:
- South Asian Student Association
- BD
- Bear’s Den; The central eatery on the South 40, located in Wohl Center.
- Bear Mart:
- The small grocery store located in Wohl Center across from Bear’s Den.
- Bear Necessities
- Not-for-profit gift & supply store. Located in Wohl, across from Bear's Den, next to Bear Mart. The shop carries a variety of dorm and office supplies as well as a large selection of Wash. U. apparel and souvenirs. Specializes in custom made birthday cakes & balloon bouquets for special occasions.
- Bearings:
- The unofficial guide to WU created annually by Student Union that contains everything you ever wanted to know about St. Louis and Wash U.
- Bears:
- The Washington University mascot.
- Black Anthology:
- An annual play performed each spring that depicts the life of African Americans on campus.
- BLOC:
- A housing option on the North Side where students can live with others who share an interest in a common theme and receive a budget for activities.
- Bowles Plaza:
- A popular outdoor eating space when the weather’s nice; Bowles Plaza is between Mallinckrodt Student Center and Umrath Hall, and includes benches and small amphitheater.
- Brookings ResCollege:
- The Brookings Residential College that includes Gregg and Lien Houses.
- Brookings Hall:
- The “castle-like” building on the east end of campus, commonly seen on the WU logo.
- B-School:
- The Olin School of Business, located in Simon Hall on the Danforth Campus.
- B-Side:
- A popular TV show on WUTV.
- Bunny, The:
- A statue of a bunny in the “thinker” pose located between Mallinckrodt and Olin Library, which is a common meeting place for students.
- Campus Circulator:
- The WU Shuttle that takes students around the Danforth campus, the South 40, West Campus, North Campus, and to the Delmar Loop. Also referred to as the Green Line.
- Campus Y:
- The Campus Y (WU’s on-campus branch of the YMCA) provides a wide range of student-led service opportunities, including Alternative Spring Break, addressing several issues, interests and community needs.
- Career Center:
- The Career Center; Located in Umrath Hall and helps you find internships and jobs, provides resume assistance, and other useful services.
- Carnaval:
- Each spring, the Association of Latin American Students organizes a celebration of Latin American culture and student talent.
- Castle, The:
- Nickname for Liggett/Koenig Residential College.
- CEC:
- Center for Engineering Computing; The two computer labs for the School of Engineering. There is one located in Lopata Hall and one in Whitaker Hall.
- Clocktower:
- The four-sided clock on the South 40 that is often used as a central meeting place.
- Cornerstone:
- The Center for Advanced Learning is an important academic resource center on campus. It is located along the Gregg House storefronts on the South 40.
- CPC:
- Campus Programming Council; A large social programming group that organizes many student events throughout the year.
- Crow:
- The Wayman Crow Residential College that includes Dardick and Nemerov Houses.
- CS40:
- Congress of the South 40; The student run governing body of the South 40 which plans programs and events for residents.
- Dance Marathon:
- A huge WU tradition usually held in November in the Athletic Complex that raises money for the Children’s Miracle Network.
- Diwali:
- Each fall semester Ashoka, the South Asian Student Association, show-cases student talent in celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights. Pronounced “dee-vaul-ee”.
- Edison:
- Edison Theater hosts several student and professional productions each year.
- EST:
- Emergency Support Team; A student group that provides emergency medical care 24/7 during the fall and spring semesters. Most students in EST have their Missouri EMT-B license.
- Estrogym:
- The South Forty Fitness Center, located upstairs in Wohl Center, has a variety of workout equipment and weights and offers several different fitness classes.
- Exec Board:
- The Orientation Executive Board consists of ten awesome undergraduates who have spent countless hours working hard to plan Orientation activities for all new students.
- Facebook:
- To look someone up on or communicate with someone over Facebook.
- Faces:
- WU’s online picture directory that can be accessed via WebSTAC.
- Faculty Family:
- Faculty members who live in the Residence Halls with their families.
- Final Friday:
- A day of programming on the Last Friday of classes sponsored by the Campus Programming Council.
- First Friday:
- A day of programming on the First Friday of classes sponsored by the Campus Programming Council.
- Floor:
- The floor of the building where you live will quickly become its own little community within your Residential College and the South 40.
- Flyering:
- Many student groups and organizations hand out and post flyers around campus and the South 40 to advertise upcoming events.
- Fro Yo:
- Frozen Yogurt
- FSAP:
- Freshman Summer Academic Program; A program where some students choose to spend five weeks of the summer prior to freshman year taking courses and living on campus.
- Gargoyle:
- The large room located on the lower level of Mallinckrodt Student Center.
- Gen Chem:
- Chemistry 111; A course that many pre-med and engineering students will take.
- Graham:
- Graham Chapel is located in the Center of campus and is where several events are held each year.
- Greenway:
- WU owned apartments located between the Danforth Campus and the Delmar Loop.
- Half and Half:
- Half chicken tenders & half french fries…a regular Bear’s Den order.
- Happy Hour:
- A popular event hosted by the Campus Programming Council that takes place most Thursdays in Bowles Plaza from 4pm-5:30pm. Stop by and get free pizza!
- HIGE:
- Pronounced "higgy'; one of the Residential Colleges that includes Hitzeman, Hurd, Meyers, and Thomas Eliot Houses.
- Hill, The:
- A great place to eat Italian food in St. Louis.
- Hilltop:
- The Hilltop Bakery, located on the ground floor of Mallinckrodt Student Center, serves excellent smoothies, coffee drinks, and pastries.
- Holmes:
- Holmes Lounge; Includes the Carvery which serves sandwiches, wraps, soups, and offers a different prime cut of meat each weekday.
- Homeplate:
- A program that matches students with a St Louis family who provides home-cooked meals several times a semester.
- JKL:
- Shanedling, Dauten and Rutledge Residence Halls. Typically upperclassmen live in these buildings.
- KARL:
- One of WU’s improv comedy student groups.
- Kayak’s:
- A popular coffee shop on the corner of Skinker Blvd. and Forest Park Parkway.
- KSA:
- Korean Student Association.
- KWUR:
- WU’s student-run radio station.
- LabSci:
- The Arts & Sciences Laboratory Sciences Building; Many large lecture classes are held in this building.
- Lee/Beau
- Lee and Beaumont Residence Halls.
- L/K
- Liggett/Koenig Residential College. Pronounced “kay-nig”.
- Loop, The:
- Prime shopping and dining locale located a few blocks north of campus
- Lopata Hall:
- One of the buildings in the School of Engineering; Often confused with Lopata House.
- Lopata House:
- A Residence Hall located on the North Side which has small classrooms in the lower level.
- Mallinckrodt:
- Located at the center of the Danforth Campus, Mallinckrodt Student Center houses several offices and student meeting places, including Edison Theater, a full-service Bank of America, Kinko’s, FedEx, the campus bookstore, the Gargoyle concert venue, and several other student services.
- Metro:
- MetroLink; The St Louis light-rail system runs to several St Louis locations, with 2 stops adjacent to the North side of campus. There is a stop at the corner of Big Bend Blvd. and Forest Park Parkway, near the North Side, and one at the corner of Skinker Blvd. and Forest Park Parkway, near Kayak’s Coffee.
- Olin:
- Olin Library; The main library located in the center of the Danforth Campus. Olin is home to Whispers Café and includes lots of study rooms and space for quiet studying.
- Orgo:
- Organic Chemistry; A course that many pre-med students will take.
- OSA:
- Office of Student Activities; Provides leadership and social programming opportunities.
- Park/Mudd:
- One of the Residential Colleges on the South 40 that includes Park and Mudd Houses.
- Pre- O:
- Pre-Orientation Programs; 9 optional, interest-based programs for new students that provide a variety of ways to meet lots of new people while exploring something in which you have an interest.
- Pride Alliance:
- A student-run GBLTQA support and dialogue group.
- Quad, The:
- Brookings Quadrangle; The open space surrounded by Brookings Hall, Busch Hall, Ridgley Hall, and Cupples I Hall, where students hang out and eat on nice days.
- RA:
- Resident Advisor; An upper-class student that lives on your floor, whose job it is to help you acclimate to WU and maintain order on the floor.
- RCD:
- Residential College Director; A professional staff member in charge of a Residential College.
- RCO:
- Residential College Olympics
- Red Alert:
- The student-run athletic spirit club which often holds “Pack the Place” Events, encouraging students to support WU athletics and receive free pizza!
- Relay for Life:
- A huge WU tradition usually held in March on Francis Field that raises money for the American Cancer Society.
- ResCollege:
- A pairing of a freshman residence hall and upper-class residence hall: Brookings, Crowe, WIG, etc.
- ResLife:
- Residential Life; The office located in the bottom level of Lien House on the South 40 that takes care of all of your housing needs.
- Row, The:
- The fraternity houses; All are located in the northwest corner of campus. Often divided into the Upper Row, located east of the AC (Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Theta Xi, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu), and the Lower Row, located by the Village (Sigma Phi Epsilon, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Beta Theta Pi, Tau Kappa Epsilon).
- RPHE:
- Residential Peer Health Educator; An upper-class student in your ResCollege who will plan health and wellness events on various topics throughout the year.
- RPM:
- Residential Peer Mentor; An upper-class student in your ResCollege who will offer academic guidance for specific courses.
- Ruby/Umrath:
- Rubelmann and Umrath Residence Halls.
- SAC:
- Student Admissions Committee; WU tour guides.
- Service First:
- An opportunity to join your new floormates and classmates in a Community Service project in the St. Louis Public Schools on the first Saturday of the semester.
- SJC:
- Social Justice Center; A student run organization that promotes awareness of social justice issues on campus. Located on the first floor of Umrath House.
- STS:
- Student Technology Services is located along the
Gregg House storefronts on the South 40 and serves all student
computing and technology needs, including cable.
- Student Health:
- Student Health Services is located in the lower level of Dardick House on the South 40 and consists of Medical Services, Mental Health Services and Health Promotion Services.
- StudLife:
- Student Life; the student-run campus newspaper that is printed every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Plus it’s free!
- SU:
- Student Union; WU’s student government.
- Swamp, The:
- The large open field in the center of the South 40, coined “The Swamp” because of it’s propensity towards flooding after heavy rain.
- Telesis:
- The online course management system where professors upload readings and assignments. Students can also keep track of all courses on one calendar and contact professors and classmates.
- Thurtene:
- An annual carnival and fundraising event planned by student groups and held in the spring. It is the largest student run carnival in the nation.
- Toasted ravioli:
- A St. Louis specialty served at Bear’s Den; deep fried ravioli.
- Ultimate:
- Ultimate Frisbee; a popular activity in warmer weather.
- Underpass:
- The underpass at Forsyth Blvd that student groups paint to advertise news and upcoming events.
- U-Pass
- Universal Pass; A card distributed every semester by WU’s Parking & Transportation Office that allows students to ride the MetroLink and MetroBusses for free!
- Ursa’s:
- An alternate dining location on the South 40 where students can study, play board games, watch TV, and get lots of tasty dessert food and ice cream.
- Village, The:
- A residential area on the north side of campus that includes Lopata House, Village House, Millbrook Apartments, and Fraternity Housing.
- WebSTAC:
- The online website where students can access their records, browse and register for courses, check grades, and much more.
- WGE:
- Pronounced “wiggy”; The William Greenleaf Eliot Residential College that includes Danforth, Wheeler and Shepley Houses.
- Whispers:
- The Café on the ground floor of Olin Library serves a variety of tasty snacks and beverages and is a great place to study and meet with friends.
- WILD:
- The free concert held in the Brookings Quad once each semester
- Wohl:
- The student center located on the South 40 that houses the Fitness Center, Center Court, Bear’s Den, Bear Mart, Bear Necessities, and the mail room.
- Wraps:
- A favorite lunch item served in the Mallinckrodt Food Court. Just be sure you’re hungry because they’re huge!
- Writing 1:
- The English course required for many WU students to satisfy the first-year writing requirement; also known as E-Comp.
- WUPD:
- Washington University Police Department, located on the South 40. Pronounced “woopty”.
- WUTV:
- The student-run TV station; Channel 22 on campus.