As a member of the class of 2029 entering Grounds, you’ll notice one glaring thing— people speak in riddles.
This habit is somehow picked up by every member of every class at the University, a psyop that remains unnoticed until friends from other schools and parents interrupt us with “what the hell are you talking about?” But once you’re indoctrinated, you’ll never come up for air. To tap into the first-year impulse to be way too ahead on everything way too far in advance, here’s some abbreviations you should use as you navigate your new life on Grounds.
1. Tundy — tun-dee
A hallmark of Grounds, the Rotunda is more than just the University’s calling card — it has its own ridiculous moniker. Tundy is used when saying “Rotunda” just feels like too much work. And it also shows the obsessive relationship students have to the Pantheon of the United States’ Eastern Seaboard, built in 1822, long before most of the current student body had civil rights. But through class discussions, study nights in the dome and a countless array of semiformal and formal photo-ops, Tundy is here to stay, right up until your inevitable graduation pictures.
2. Clunnel — kluh-null
One of the newest parts of Grounds and an object of fascination for upperclassmen who had to wait eons for Shannon Library to open, the tunnel between Clemons and Shannon is an unheard of architectural feat. The Clunnel may be short, but it bridges the gap between two very different academic areas. You can even smell it as the air changes from dusty-book-restoration to Chipotle, Roots and Newcomb Chick-fil-A — an atmosphere with so many seed oils that RFK is considering getting involved. But no matter how different these spaces are, the Clunnel is a constant reminder that no matter where you are on Grounds, your brain is totally numb from staring at school work for the last six hours. That was the goal, right?
3. Tralcony — tral-kun-ee
If you want the best spot to people watch, you’ll have to make it through an obstacle course — the Corner on a Thursday night, the line and attached bouncer at Trinity Irish Pub, two flights of stairs and a second bouncer at the door to the Trin balcony. The Tralcony. But once you get there, DON’T LEAVE. As someone who has waited over 30 minutes for a spot on the Tralcony multiple times, I can say with full confidence that it’s always worth it, no matter what state of mind you might be in. So stand there awkwardly, shiver in the cold, accidentally spill ice off of the Tralcony and feel insane fear in your soul when a few chips hit the bouncer and they turn around to look up for the culprit.
4. Virgatio — ver-jah-tee-o
Another essential social spot, The Virginian is well-known among first-years for its mac and cheese and the urban legend mystique late at night. The bar is rumored to be down the flight of steps next door. Pro tip from an employee — it’s not. That’s where we keep the mustard. Since you likely won’t overcome your fear of Virg at night, you might only become familiar with the Virginian patio during daylight hours. But once you are, you won’t be able to stay away, even when it’s 1 a.m. A landscape of rickety tables and rusty chairs, you might be victim to the loudest cars you have ever heard blasting trap music as they crawl down University Avenue, but the Virgatio is sought-after year-round.
As you start your first year at the University, its incessant abbreviations and short lingo are a reminder to make this University home, no matter how insufferable you have to become to reach that goal. You might be calling yourself a first-year because you believe in “lifelong learning,” but the next four years will show you that your new vocabulary is the real education.
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