Hey Freshman! Welcome to our line of posts orientating you with information you won’t get in regular orientation week. Back in the early days of Wesleying, Holly and Xue founded Wesleying on seven hills of Middletown, and some of their earliest posts were about helping freshman get oriented to the social environment of Wesleyan University. The Wesleying staff has taken it upon themselves to update these 3-year-old posts for the benefit of you, the new freshmen. Enjoy!
The (Updated) Guide of How to Talk the Talk of Wesleyan (old post here)
You:
Prefrosh are technically prospective students still in high school (other schools call them Prospies, but don’t you fucking dare utter that word here), but some people keep calling students who have already matriculated “prefrosh” until the minute they step onto campus during orientation, whereupon they become freshmen. Additionally, you are forever your host’s prefrosh no matter what year you are. No, you will not be hazed.
Academics:
PAC is for history/government/poli-sci majors, as is the new Albriton Center (formerly, Davenport). Fisk is for most humanities, Judd is where psychology majors live, and the Science Center is for science majors. Hall-Atwater, Shanklin and the Science Tower are all separate-yet-connected entities that are referred to as the Science Center. PAC lab is in PAC, STlab is in the Science Tower, and HASlab is in Hall-Atwater, although no one goes there. The CFA is that collection of concrete buildings where all of the Arts classes are located. Olin is where all of the humanities books are/ Science Library, or Sci-Li is where all of the science books are. The Art Library is in the Davidson Arts Center (not to be confused with the Davidson Health Center). Never, ever, ever confuse COL (College of Letters) with CSS (College of Social Studies). The administration is all in North College except for the President, who’s in South College. The Bell Tower is in South College, the Clock Tower is in Memorial Chapel.
Living:
In Westco specifically, if you live on the second floor, you live in Up, and if you live on the first floor, you live in Down. For example, Westco 214 would be Down 2; Westco 125 would be Up 1. The Westco Cafe is not a cafe, but a performance space below Westco 2. Fauver is divided into Nearside and Farside (some prefer to divide it between the Long Hall and the Short Hall). “Butterfields” is almost never said in its entirety; instead, it’s Butt A, Butt B, Butt C. If you want to be really obscure, you can call the Butts EastCo, referring to its former status as “East College”. The space in the middle of the Butterfields is called The Butthole. There are also a variety of Program Houses, where people who share certain interests can bypass General Room Selection or (GRS); Reslife has a list of them here.
Leisure:
Loud/Living Spirits Day (formerly Duke Day), The Studio 54 Party and the Sex Party are in the fall. Ze Who Must Not Be Named Day (formerly Zonker Harris Day), The Valentine’s Day Party and Queer Prom are in the spring. On 4/20, Wes Students ritualistically gather on the hill to celebrate the pot-themed holiday. A Townie is a Middletown resident unaffiliated with the University, but the word has a somewhat negative connotation. The Tunnels can refer to any part of the tunnel system around campus, which are accessed by secret access points known only to a select few. The Tomb is the Skull and Serpent building next to the CFA, and they sometimes have crazy dance parties that are advertised by word-of-mouth.
Other stuff:
When eating at Usdan, there are two big rooms where people eat. They are differentiated in any of the following ways: Left/Right, Tray Return/No Tray Return, Coke/Pepsi (there are different dispensers next to each), Loud/Quiet.
WesTech is a word that will pop up every once in a while (via the ACB): “WesTech refers to everyone NOT dke/beta or mostly the “very Wesleyan” population. It comes from the idea that Wesleyan has unattractive girls and bad sports and thus, might as well be a Technical school: WesTech.” Apparently, however, this is a term used mainly by other schools to make fun of Wesleyan, and has been appropriated by the sports teams as a label of pride (Sports teams doing the ironic appropriation? Only at Wesleyan). A Techie was a term generally used by athletes to describe a “typical” Wesleyan student (artsy), or a “Techie.”
Hi Rise and Lo Rise are where most of the Juniors live. Lo Rise are those condo-y things between Church and Williams down the hill from High street, while Hi Rise is that apartment-y looking thing in the same complex.
Hope that was useful! (Any commenters who want to point out things we’ve missed can helpfully comment below and we’ll update the post ASAP).
We’ll be following up this post with updated posts on Dining at Wesleyan and Greek Life At Wesleyan, as well as some helpful Dorm Living FAQ’s and other important, useful and interesting information. See you soon!
to #24 – “The Tech” was a term generally used by athletes to describe a “typical” Wesleyan student (artsy), or a “Techie.”
Am I the only one who thinks of the two sides of Uz as “Coke” and “Pepsi?”
Am I the only one who thinks of the two sides of Uz as “Coke” and “Pepsi?”
oh yeah, you should mention the Tech.
many people are confused by usage of the term “Tech”, and as a non-jock I’m unclear about whether it’s still used. but it might help future generations to at least be aware of it if they ever encounter it being used.
also, the freshies will never know Mocon! sad.
oh yeah, you should mention the Tech.
many people are confused by usage of the term “Tech”, and as a non-jock I’m unclear about whether it’s still used. but it might help future generations to at least be aware of it if they ever encounter it being used.
also, the freshies will never know Mocon! sad.
no one goes to haslab?
no one goes to haslab?
is “Wes Tech” still used?
/class of 05
is “Wes Tech” still used?
/class of 05
DAC – Davidson Art Center (not to be confused with the Davidson Health Center). Also, it might be worth pointing out that the art library is in the DAC.
Maybe hi-rise and lo-rise?
DAC – Davidson Art Center (not to be confused with the Davidson Health Center). Also, it might be worth pointing out that the art library is in the DAC.
Maybe hi-rise and lo-rise?
@16 : The different “sides” are actually entirely separate rooms. The “Usdan Marketplace” on the 2nd floor has two dining rooms, and you can’t get from one to the other without going back through the serving area. If you want to meet someone at Usdan, you’ll need some system to differentiate the two rooms. left/right is most common, I think, though West/South is less ambiguous.
@16 : The different “sides” are actually entirely separate rooms. The “Usdan Marketplace” on the 2nd floor has two dining rooms, and you can’t get from one to the other without going back through the serving area. If you want to meet someone at Usdan, you’ll need some system to differentiate the two rooms. left/right is most common, I think, though West/South is less ambiguous.
All the stuff about eating and greek societies are going in a future post.
The Butts? What kind of 2007 Wesleyan University Academy of Liberal Arts Learning are you attending?
Everyone who in, cool and doesn’t get hazed calls them the Victor Lloyd Butterfield Dormitories.
The Butts? What kind of 2007 Wesleyan University Academy of Liberal Arts Learning are you attending?
Everyone who in, cool and doesn’t get hazed calls them the Victor Lloyd Butterfield Dormitories.
well former high schools kids do tend to go to Wes
well former high schools kids do tend to go to Wes
the two sides of the cafeteria? sounds a little too much like high school. unless I’m missing something.
the two sides of the cafeteria? sounds a little too much like high school. unless I’m missing something.
bro: someone with the culture of athletes, who may or may not be involved in a sport. arguably derogatory.
bro: someone with the culture of athletes, who may or may not be involved in a sport. arguably derogatory.
eclectic, halloween party, other secret societies, CFA, Alpha Delt.
fuck usdan, fuck fauver. abominations.
eclectic, halloween party, other secret societies, CFA, Alpha Delt.
fuck usdan, fuck fauver. abominations.
what happened to tadd gero?
what happened to tadd gero?
What about Mocon?!
What about Mocon?!
Ditto #3 – Put in something about the two sides of Usdan.
Also the Nics, and the half Nic.
Ditto #3 – Put in something about the two sides of Usdan.
Also the Nics, and the half Nic.
Corrections and Additions:
-Studio 54 is in the fall
-Olin closes at 2
-The Butthole is the courtyard in the center of the Butts
Corrections and Additions:
-Studio 54 is in the fall
-Olin closes at 2
-The Butthole is the courtyard in the center of the Butts
Why the “etc.” after “Butt A, Butt B, Butt C”? Are there more?
Why the “etc.” after “Butt A, Butt B, Butt C”? Are there more?
Wes ranked #13 in US News for 2010
Wes ranked #13 in US News for 2010
Also note Beta, Deke, and Psi U
Also note Beta, Deke, and Psi U
CORRECTION: duke day, now Loud Spirits Day, is not the same as zonker haris/ze who must not be named day. duke day was been renamed Living Spirits Day, and will probably be changed again this year because JC realized the obvious acronym and got pissed that he was had.
CORRECTION: duke day, now Loud Spirits Day, is not the same as zonker haris/ze who must not be named day. duke day was been renamed Living Spirits Day, and will probably be changed again this year because JC realized the obvious acronym and got pissed that he was had.
most 2012 people called the ‘long’ hallway the “L Side” and the short hallway either the short side or the “awk” side
most 2012 people called the ‘long’ hallway the “L Side” and the short hallway either the short side or the “awk” side
I’ve never heard fauver split up that way, even though I lived there two years ago. It must be some 2012 thing. Why not just East and West?
I’ve never heard fauver split up that way, even though I lived there two years ago. It must be some 2012 thing. Why not just East and West?
the two usdan dining halls: tray side and non-tray side or loud and quiet or social and emo or left and right
the two usdan dining halls: tray side and non-tray side or loud and quiet or social and emo or left and right
You forgot about the pool on the top floor of Olin
You forgot about the pool on the top floor of Olin
pretty good job
pretty good job