Our Work

This is all of the data we collected from our survey!

References:

“Yale Lingo.” Yale College, yalecollege.yale.edu/get-know-yale-college/yale-lingo. Accessed 12 Dec. 2023.

“Talk the Talk: Harvard Lingo.” Harvard College, college.harvard.edu/student-life/student-stories/talk-talk-harvard-lingo. Accessed 12 Dec. 2023.

“Do You Speak Princetonian?: The Language of Princeton – University Archives.” Princeton University, The Trustees of Princeton University, universityarchives.princeton.edu/2017/05/do-you-speak-princetonian-the-language-of-princeton/. Accessed 12 Dec. 2023.

By Class Year

Documenting if further answers to term questions are class-specific rather than general to the student body from Class of ‘23-’28. All students surveyed are between Class of ‘23-’27.

Our largest response came from second-year students (‘26) with 8 out of 24 responses (33.3%).

Following that, we received 6 out of 24 responses (25%) from third-year students (‘25). First-year students and fourth-year students (‘24 & ‘27) contained the same number of respondents at 4 out of 24 participants (16.7%).

Our smallest response size was received from winter graduates (8.3%) with 2 out of 24 participants.

Names of The Barbara Walters Center

Barb, or The Barb, appears to be the most popular term shift due to its short, brief wording; all participants noted using this terminology choice, leading to 80% popularity. It lends hand to efficiency in dialogue as it saves time in speaking and writing.

The second most popular usage was BabaWawa with 4 out of 24 responses (13.3%) referring to the space as such. This suggests that this kind of nickname, first given to the person the space is named after, is meant to create familiarity and intimacy within the student body. Such references are more personal and humorous to the community.

The terms The BWCC/BWCC and Barbara Walters, are tied at 1 out of 24 responses each (3.3%) when asked about usage. The first terms are shortenings made by the college in official documents when referring to the space; the last term is the name of who the campus center is named after. The usage of these terms by the student body can point to recognition of who made the space possible (Barbara Walters generously donated funds that supported the creation of this space for students), and following the institution's own created terminology.

When asked if students refer to the space by another name not listed, 17 out of 24 students responded that they did not. One response was given for each additional name: Barbs, Barbie, Baba Yaga and Barb. Another response provided stated that the space is referred to as the Barbara Walters Campus Center, when in conversation with their parents. The above additional responses suggest a more inner circle terminology amongst friends on campus; the student’s formality with their parents points toward the idea that campus lingo is community-specific towards those on campus, specifically students.

Dinning Hall in Barb

All participants regarded the dining hall by the same term they call the Campus Center: Barb or The Barb, leading to 88.9% as the popular choice.

Following that was BWCC, Gund Dining Hall, and BWCC Dining Pavilion, all with one response at 3.7%. Such a response suggests that the multi-purpose space translates into multiple use of the term to describe specific spaces within it. BWCC and BWCC Dining Pavilion furthers the aforementioned statement that the community follows the college’s official terminology when referring to certain spaces.

The official name, shown on a plaque outside of the service area, is Gund Dining Hall. However, it appears that most lack the knowledge of the official name and don’t use it, especially because the college itself does not refer to the space by that name.

Cafe in Barb

All participants regarded the cafe as either The Cafe, The Barb Cafe, or Barb Cafe. The given term options of The BWCC Cafe and Hulitar Cafe were not among student choices.

15 out of 24 (46.9%) students noted the use of The Cafe as their main term, and 17 out of 24 respondents (53.1%) used The Barb Cafe or Barb Cafe. Considering that the number of responses are larger than the surveyed group, it points to interchangeable usage of either of the three terms.

The usage of The Cafe while also efficient, seemingly needs no further specificity as we only have one cafe on campus. Those that specify by adding Barb or The Barb in front of “cafe” show the individual need to describe the location in more depth, possibly to clarify they are talking about a cafe on campus rather than a cafe off of campus.

The lack of usage of The BWCC Cafe proposes that the term is not efficient in saving time in dialogue as it is a much longer location name. The official term of the cafe is Hulitar Cafe, yet like Gund Dining Hall, suggests that there is a lack of knowledge of the official name as well as it not being an official term used by the college in reference to the space.

When prompted with the question if they call the cafe by any other term not provided as an option, 19 out of 24 students did not refer to it by any other name. One response was given for each additional name: The Barb, Caf, the coffee shop, and the one that is open late. Such additional names allude to more specific descriptions of the cafe’s purpose.

Living Room in Barb

16 of 24 students (37.2%) surveyed referred to the living room space within the campus center as the living room. Following closely behind were 14 out of 24 students (32.6%) naming the space as The Barb or Barb. 11 out of 24 students (25.6%) call the space the couches. Lastly, 2 of 24 students (4.7%) regard the space as the BWCC living room.

Considering that the number of responses are larger than the surveyed group, it points to interchangeable usage of either of the five terms. Again, there is seemingly no need for further specificity of the space as it is small and connected with other areas of the campus center. When location specificity is used, it can hold meaning towards a person needing to be more specific for the understanding of others.

The lack of usage of The Karen R. Lawrence Living Room and The Lawrence Living Room also proposes that the term is not efficient in saving time in dialogue as it is a much longer location name. The official term of the living room is The Karen R. Lawrence Living Room, yet like Gund Dining Hall, suggests that there is a lack of knowledge of the official name as well as it not being an official term used by the college in reference to the space.

Names for Campbell Sports Center

19 out of 24 (47.5%) responses considered the Campbell Sports Center by the name of the sports center. Following that were 11 out of 24 (27.5%) responses calling it Campbell. 10 of 24 (25%) responses used the term sports center.

Considering that the number of responses are larger than the surveyed group, it points to interchangeable usage of either of the three terms. Again, there is seemingly no need for further specificity of the space as it is the only gym space on campus. When specificity is used, it can hold meaning towards efficiency in conversation, similarly in reference to other spaces as mentioned before.

When prompted with the question if they call the sports center by any other term not provided as an option, 12 out of 24 students did not refer to it by any other name. 8 out of 24 stated the gym, with one stating they will use that specificity if that is where they’re headed. 3 out of 24 stated the pool, again most likely when doing a specific activity. One response was given for facilities. Such additional names allude to more specific descriptions of the sports center’s multi-use purpose with activities.

Names for Bates/Common Ground

15 out of 24 (55.6%) responses referred to Common Ground as its building location, Bates. 12 out of 24 (44.4%) responses called it by its official name. Considering that the number of responses are larger than the surveyed group, it points to interchangeable usage of either of the two terms. When specificity is used, it can hold meaning towards intended usage in conversation, similarly in reference to other spaces as mentioned before. Here, it appears that half of students follow the college’s official name for the space, and no further specificity is necessary for conversation.

When prompted with the question if they call the sports center by any other term not provided as an option, all of 24 students did not refer to it by any other name. One mentioned that they were not completely sure of the space’s intent, proposing that it is not a well-advertised space by the school, and is more exclusive to particular groups in the community.

Student Body

All of 24 (55.8%) responses referred to the student body by general college classification. 18 out of 24 (41.9%) responses called the student body by SLC traditional classification. Considering that the number of responses are larger than the surveyed group, it points to interchangeable usage of either of the two terms, possibly due to the fact that the college’s classification is not as familiar outside of the community. One student responded that they refer to the student body as Gryphons, the mascot of the school.

When specificity is used, it can allude to the speakers’ lingo as more SLC-oriented rather than just general college classification. Quite possibly, it holds greater cultural meaning.

When prompted with the question if they call the student body by any other term not provided as an option, 9 of 24 students did not refer to them by any other name. 12 of 24 used variations of SLC students/kids, students/student body. One mentioned that they only use SLC terminology for first-year students, and another used more slang-oriented terminology in stating “SLC peeps”. When specificity is used by a student in reference to another, it suggests the necessity of including more information about their relationship to the campus and their class year. The student that stated the use of Gryphons follows the college’s lingo in how they refer to the student body, moreso when discussing sports-related events.

Name of Cash at SLC

Respondents were inquired on if they call our source of money to pay for college items, such as meals and laundry, 1Card Cash or Gryphon Bucks. 23 of 24 responses (92%) stated 1Card Cash. 2 of 24 responses were Gryphon Bucks. In view of the number of responses being greater than the surveyed group, it points to interchangeable usage of either of the two terms, although 1Card Cash is the most popular term.

When asked if they call 1 Card Cash by any other term not provided as an option, 18 of 24 students did not refer to them by any other name. 6 of 24 answered with money, or some other variation: monopoly money, washing machine money, and college money.

When specificity is used by a student, it suggests the necessity of including more information about the intended usage/its purpose, or to create humor in conversation.

Siegel Center

Students were requested to respond to what term they used to refer to the Siegel Center. 18 of 24 answers (58.1%) stated Siegel Center, or the Siegel Center. 13 of 24 (41.9%) replied the Pub. Due to the number of responses being greater than the surveyed group, it points to interchangeable usage of either of the two terms. The options Charlie’s Place and Ruth Leff Siegel Center were not chosen by any student. The official name is the Ruth Leff Siegel Center, yet the institution itself calls the space the Siegel Center, which can impact term usage among the community. The space was called the Pub from 1970 until its name change in 1983 to Charlie’s Place, in honor of President Emeritus Charles DeCarlo.

Its name was officially changed to the Ruth Leff Siegel Center in 1998. Since the older members of the community still consider the space as the Pub, it answers the question as to why the term has carried over to the current student body. Furthermore, the college will use its older name as a reference to “how it is known by many”. With both terms used by the college, it influences student usage. Its renaming to honor President Charles was brief, which may be why the term did not stick around for long.

Students were asked if they call the space by any other name; 20 out of 24 responses stated no. Two responses stated that they do not talk about or refer to the space, most likely because it sits empty outside of Health and Wellness usage. Regarding the lack of use, two responses stated it as the place that is never open/not used. Another respondent replied that they don’t know where it is. Such responses to this additional question were not surprising, as the space has been closed since the opening of the Barbara Walters Campus Center in 2019.

First Years

When asked what students call those beginning their first year at SLC, 21 of 24 responses (55.3%) said freshman, and 17 of 24 responses (44.7%) said first-year or first-year student. Again considering that the number of responses are larger than the surveyed group, it points to interchangeable usage of either of the two terms, possibly due to the fact that the college’s classification is not as familiar outside of the community. Not one of 24 students use the term freshie, which points to the more sophisticated vocabulary of the community.

Respondents were again prompted with the question of if they call these students by any other term; all stated no. Usage of another term does not seem necessary because both terms provided are already very specific in description, which may be why a third does not exist.

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Traditions

Respondents were asked to consider what traditions are important to the SLC community. 20 of 24 (45.5%) responses given were Rocky or Rocky Horror. 11 of 24 (25%) responses were Late Night Breakfast. 9 of 24 (20.5%) responses were the Library Takeover Party. 2 of 24 (4.5%) responses were Bacchanalia. All provided traditions, including the Princess Bride screening not given as an initial option, are college-recognized events that are directed by the institution. The lack of response to Bacchanalia is because of its decline in college organization.

When students were asked to include any other traditions not mentioned, 7 of 24 responses stated the Princess Bride movie screening, as the lead actor Cary Elwes is an alum of the school. Two responses mentioned 30 x 30, a student-created event that is not recognized by the school (pertains to drinking games created by the seniors for first-year students, in which they win the prize of free drinks). Three responses mentioned the importance of Sleaze Week, with one detailing the appreciation it brings of freedom of expression. Sleaze Week was dropped by the college as an official tradition, possibly due to discomfort of appearing to be promoting semi/full nudity as heard by two alumni statements, similarly reasoned to the decline of Bacchanalia and its changing culture. Two first-year students were unsure of community traditions, because they are not as familiar with the traditions as students with more seniority are.