Service & Maintenance Staff
210
Student Centers
Lowry Student Center
Main Libraries
- Andrews Library
- Flo K. Gault Library
- Timken Science Library
Popular Places to Chill
- Common Grounds
- Lowry pit
- Mom's
- Old Main Café
- The quad
Bar on Campus
The College Underground, Kittredge Dining Hall (lower level, east entrance)
Bowling on Campus
Scot Lanes in the Lowry Student Center
Coffeehouse on Campus
- Common Grounds, student-run and managed coffeehouse on College Avenue
- MacLeod's Coffee Bar, located in Lowry Center
- Old Main Café, located in Kauke Hall
Movie Theater on Campus
No; however, many campus organizations show movies or project sports events or political elections on a screen in the Lowry Center.
"Green" Initiatives
Environmental sustainability is a top priority at the College of Wooster. The newly renovated athletic facility was built with the largest solar roof of any college facility in the country. Plus, Wooster reports, that "Upgrades to 34 campus buildings will reduce the college's carbon footprint by 36 percent." Students are also very involved in the "green" movement at the College. Greenhouse, a student environmentalist organization, recently helped to convert Lowry to a "Trayless Cafeteria" in addition to starting the "Rideshare" program. Groups like Organic Farming and Peace by Peace also work to educate the College on environmental issues and encourage change within the community.
School Slang
- Beast: Milwaukee's Best beer, a cheap beer that is the beer of choice for many students. You will often find it at fraternity or house parties.
- COW Card: Wooster students' college ID cards, which are used as keys to enter buildings and dorm rooms. They are also used for the meal plan, printing costs, and as a debit card.
- ElCamps: El Campesino Mexican restaurant, where students often go on Wednesday nights to take advantage of the $2 margarita special
- Gallows: A "Who's Line Is It Anyway?" type of show run by the chem-free group on campus that holds weekly shows
- Holden Hotel: A wing on the bottom floor of Holden Hall which has been renovated more recently than the rest of the building
- Huetters/Hooters: Bornhuetter Hall, because no one can pronounce the name, and it sort of looks mammary.
- IS: Independent Study
- Kitt: Kittredge Dining Hall
- PEC: Armington Physical Education Center
- The pit: Lowry Student Center's pit is an area on its first floor. Students go here to study, hang out, or sit by the fireplace, which is kept lit in the wintertime.
- The Pot: The nickname of the Potpourri, a bi-weekly newsletter that sits on the dining hall tables
- Pre-UGDP: "Pre-Underground Dance Party" refers to having a party or pregame event before going to the Underground on a Friday night.
- The Schwag: Wagner Hall
- Stan the Man: Affectionate nickname of Wooster's former president-R. Stanton Hales-who reminds students of a jovial grandfather
- Suicide Single: Certain singles in Armington, Stevenson, and Bissman that are about half the width of a normal single room
- TGB: Stands for "To-Go Box," which students can get from the dining halls when they want to take their meal to-go
- The UG: A nickname for the College Underground, the college club/bar on campus
- UGDP: Stands for "Underground Dance Party," which refers to when the Underground is open on Friday nights for dancing until 2 a.m.
- Woo Goggles: Like beer goggles, it's the effect of the guys or girls around you growing more attractive over a certain period of time. However, the difference with Woo Goggles is that it occurs while sober.
Traditions
- The Arch: The Delmar Archway, or "the Arch" as it is more commonly known, was constructed during the 1961-62 renovation of Kauke Hall. Kauke Hall is the most recognizable building on campus, and the Arch is the reason why. Students are introduced to the Arch when they first arrive on campus. First-year students gather in front of the Arch for their class picture as soon as they arrive on campus, and then they are led by the Scot Pipers through the Arch into McGaw Chapel where they are welcomed by the president. Graduating seniors march through the Arch before being seated in the Oak Grove for the start of commencement ceremonies. When they return for their class reunions, they will march through the Arch again as part of the Parade of Classes.
- Bricks: Bricks have become a symbol for the College of Wooster because of the brick pathways throughout campus. For years, the brick paths were made with bricks manufactured at the Wooster brick yards in town. These bricks are marked with the words "Wooster, Ohio." It is tradition for seniors to steal a brick from the pathways before they graduate. But the story is, if you steal one before your finish your IS senior year, you won't graduate!
- IS Parade: "IS Monday," the first Monday after spring break, is the due date for all senior independent studies. Independent studies must be turned into the registrar's office by 4 p.m. The day is a school-wide celebration. Many seniors wear costumes or get special T-shirts made with slogans like "I finISed!" An IS parade begins at 5 p.m. where the pipers and dean of faculty lead the ecstatic seniors through the Arch. The IS Parade ends at Kittredge Dining Hall where pizza is provided for the seniors. Seniors spend the entire day celebrating with their classmates. In fact, alumni around the country hold celebrations every year on IS Monday because they still want to partake in this important tradition.
- Kilts: The Scot Band uniforms are one of the most recognized symbols of the College of Wooster. The idea of using a Scottish-style uniform came in the late 1930s while trying to develop a new band uniform. Through a generous donation by alumnus Birt Babcock, the school purchased the first shipment of MacLeod tartan kilts. The MacLeod tartan had no special significance at the time, other than that the tartan matched school colors. The kilts made their debut in 1940 and have been an important part of Wooster since.
- The Rock: The "Wooster Rock" was given by the class of 1874, and during the past 125 years, it has carved its place in Wooster history. In 1873, the graduating class planted a memorial tree. Unfortunately, a passing cow disapproved of the tree and made short work of it. The class of 1874 wanted something that would stand the test of time and wandering cows. Upon the suggestion of Dr. Orange Nash Stoddard, professor of natural sciences, the class of 1874 removed the rock laboriously from a site near the present Westminster Church House. The rock is the remaining link to Wooster's earlier days as it was placed just south of Old Main, which was leveled by a fire on December 11, 1901. In 1971, the 20-ton rock was sinking into the ground, so it was moved about 40 feet to its current location where it sits next to McGaw Chapel on a 15-ton base of gravel and concrete. The rock has become a notable landmark, as it has been painted red, blue, and in stripes; at least one attempt was made to dynamite it. During the 50th reunion for the class of 1874, William Pocock, the class secretary, stated "[the rock] has heard so many confessions of lovers, and is in possession of so many secrets, that it now commands the respect of all."
- Scot Pipers: The Scot Band performed for the first time in 1940, and in 1962, there was an effort to organize and train a pipe band with dancers. The Scot Pipers are one of the most recognizable symbols of Wooster, and you can often hear them play "Scotland the Brave" during the day on campus. The pipers play before many varsity sporting events as well as for "IS Monday," commencement, and other special Wooster events. The sight of the Scot Pipers as they march into the football stadium is one that alumni rank among their fondest memories of Wooster.
- Tootsie Rolls: Every year, when seniors turn their independent study projects into the registar, they are given a Toostie Roll. To people who have not gone through the independent study process, this may seem like a meaningless gesture for completing a 100-plus page project. But to Wooster students, the Toostie Roll has come to represent the end of a long journey at the College. The registar's office has a blow-up Toostie Roll for seniors to take pictures with, and the College claims that some seniors have even had their candy bronzed for commemoration. The Toostie Roll tradition has been going on for decades, all because one of the College's registrars thought it would be a nice gesture to give students something in return for their work on the IS projects. It just so happens that Toostie Rolls were on sale that year.
Urban Legends
- A complete network of steam tunnels provides an underground way to get around the whole campus.
- If students are able to completely fill the Kauke Arch with snow, legend has it that all classes will be canceled the next day.
- If you steal a Wooster brick before you finish your IS, you won't graduate.
- If you walk over Wooster's emblem (located outside of Gault Library), it is bad luck-especially while working on the IS!
- There is a ghost in the attic of Compton who killed herself after not getting into Harvard for grad school. She screams and wails all the time.
Favorite Things To Do
WAC, the Wooster Activities Crew, is a large part of student life on campus. They are constantly providing entertainment, both on and off campus, to students at Wooster. Every year, WAC puts on "Party on the Green" and "Spring Fest," large outdoor concerts complete with games, activities, and refreshments. They also plan "Winter Gala," a themed formal held in the Lowry Center.
A Wooster student's favorite thing to do? Keep busy. At Wooster, in one day you could go bowling and play pool right after classes, have a cookout for dinner, cheer the football team on under the lights at the stadium, and then go dancing at the Underground into the wee hours of the morning.
Clubs and Organizations on Campus
There are more than 100 student organizations at the College of Wooster, so there really is no excuse to not be involved in something. Wooster students love to be involved! Everyone at Wooster seems to be in at least one club or organization, and it is not uncommon to know someone who has started a group on campus. Getting involved in a club is a great way to meet people who share similar interests. There are volunteer clubs, faith-based clubs, political clubs, gaming clubs, art clubs, and club sports-just to name a few categories.
Student Activities Offered
- Campus ministries
- Choral groups
- Concert band
- Dance
- Drama/theater
- Jazz band
- Literary magazine
- Marching band
- Music ensembles
- Musical theater
- Radio station
- Student government
- Student-run film society
- Symphony orchestra
- Yearbook
ROTC
Air Force ROTC:
NoNavy ROTC:
NoArmy ROTC:
NoDid You Know?
- Every week, a group of volunteers comes to the Lowry Center with their therapy dogs for students. A familiar shaggy face and a wagging tail can always brighten your day!
- Scot Spirit Day, held the first Friday of each school year, gives students the opportunity to learn more about the different clubs and organizations on campus. This is a great time for freshmen to get involved by signing up for clubs that interest them. Each club or organization has a table where representatives are available to answer questions about their group.
- Wooster holds forums on a wide variety of topics throughout the year. The College works hard to find speakers who relate to students' coursework or who can provide an interesting perspective on current issues.