About Stanford: Stanford University

Learn the lingo, catch-phrases and acronyms that Stanford community members use in everyday conversation:

AA: Academic Advisor. An academic mentor for undergraduates; the person who helps students make academic decisions.
All Nighter (to pull an…): A common phenomenon, especially when it's time for final exams.
ASSU: Associated Students of Stanford University. The student government.
Axe: The symbol of rivalry between Stanford University and our traditional rival, U.C. Berkeley (Cal). The Axe is awarded each year to the school winning the Big Game.
Axess: The student information system for registering, reviewing grades, changing addresses and other administrative tasks.
BART: Bay Area Rapid Transit. A subway system which carries passengers throughout the San Francisco area.
Big Game: The annual football matchup against rival Berkeley. Traditionally it's the last, most highly anticipated football game of the season.
Caltrain: A commuter rail system running between San Francisco and San Jose. Don't have a car? This is your best bet to get to "the City".
Cardinal: Stanford's mascot: The color, not the bird!
The City: Known as San Francisco to non-Bay Area residents, it's the cultural center of the Bay Area and popular with students when they want to get off campus.
The Claw: Nickname for the fountain in White Plaza, between the Bookstore and Old Union.
The CoHo: The Coffee House (or CoHo) in Tresidder Union is a popular student hangout for studying, socializing, and sipping java.
The Daily: Stanford students' independent newspaper.
Dead Week: The week immediately preceding finals week. It is intended that students study feverishly during this week.
Dink: Dinkelspiel Auditorium. Located between Tresidder Union and the Braun Music Center, this is a popular venue for musical events and other performances.
The Dish: The largest of the radio telescopes in the hills behind Lake Lagunita. Also short-hand for the open space area behind Stanford in which this radio telescope is located.
Dollies: The five spirited women who accompany the Stanford Band with dance routines.
The Draw: The ultimate in Spring Quarter stress. This hair-raising process decides students' housing fate for the coming year.
EANABs: Equally attractive non-alcoholic beverages. Required at campus parties serving alcohol.
The Farm: Campus nickname, derived from the days when horses rather than students roamed in what previously was the farm of university founders Leland and Jane Stanford.
Flicks: A stress-relieving movie screening on Sunday evenings.
Flo Mo: Florence Moore Hall, a dormitory complex.
Fountain Hopping: A common activity after football games.
Gaieties: The student-written, student-produced musical performed the weekend before Big Game.
Hoover Tower: Erected in honor of Herbert Hoover. An elevator ride to the top provides an outstanding view of campus and the Bay Area.
IHUM: Introduction to the Humanities. A program of introductory humanities courses which all freshmen must take in order to satisfy a graduation requirement.
IMs: Intramurals. Sports tournaments ranging from football to inner-tube water polo that are expressly for dorm teams. A source of good-natured dorm rivalries.
Lake Lag: A deep wide basin at the corner of campus. Don't expect to actually find water here, however. The basin is dry for a good portion of the year. The trail surrounding it is popular with joggers.
LSJUMB: Those merry masters of madcap melody, the truly incomparable Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band!
Mem Aud: Memorial Auditorium, the largest on campus.
Mem Chu: Memorial Church, located prominently in the Quad.
Oski: The Berkeley Golden Bear -- and the nemesis of Stanford's Tree.
The Oval: The large grassy elliptical area at the end of Palm Drive that's perfect for an afternoon of Frisbee or volleyball.
PAA: Peer Advising Associate. Upperclass academic mentors who are invaluable source of information to freshmen about planning which classes to take.
Primal Scream: Tradition of stress alleviation for students. Listen for it at midnight the Sunday night of Dead Week.
The Quad: An enclosure of buildings housing some of the classroom space on campus and many departmental offices.
RA: Resident Assistant. The truly dedicated upperclass student who lives in dorms and serves roles ranging from dorm activity coordinator to advisor, confidant and friend.
RCC: Resident Computer Coordinator. A human guide to computers that comes with every dorm.
The Row: Mayfield Avenue, location of numerous upperclass houses and fraternities.
Stern Dining Hall: Open weeknights until 1 a.m. for students in search of a late-night snack.
Tres Ex: Tresidder Express. Stanford's rendition of a 7-Eleven, located in Tresidder Union.
The Tree: The Stanford Band's mascot.
White Plaza: The large plaza surrounded by Old Union, the Bookstore, the post office, and Tresidder Union. It is a central hub of student activity on campus, especially during the spring.
The Zoo: KZSU, 90.1 FM, Stanford's student radio station.

Stanford Speak