Occidental College - Inside Scoop

School Slang

• Hell mornings - Any morning where you have to wake up for the dreaded 8:30 a.m. class.
• Oxy - The most important campus slang. Never call it Occidental, everyone will think you know nothing about the school.
• Oxy Grapevine - The famous Oxy gossip network that everyone is a part of.

• RA - Resident advisors, students who monitor and take care of the other students in their dorm.
• Stewie Beach - Popular place on the upper side of campus where people hang out, tan, and play volleyball, Frisbee, or other games.
• The Cooler - Another name for the Tiger Cooler, the coffeehouse/hangout located in Samuelson Pavilion.

• The Fountain/Star Trek Fountain - Refers to the famous fountain at the entrance to the College.
• The Marketplace - The main eating establishment at Oxy, located in the Johnson Student Center.
• TT Time - The time after 9 p.m. when every place to eat is closed but the famous Taco Trucks.

Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming To School

• Always get to know your professors, and try not to be shy- ask them for help!
• Be nice to your RAs.

• Don’t be afraid to ask any question that pops into your mind.
• Don’t worry about your prerequisites right away, especially if you haven’t decided on a major. Take classes that interest you, then worry about core requirements.

• Get a routine down early or you’ll won't sleep right all semester.
• It’s okay not to have a major picked out right away.

Tips to Succeed

• Don’t wait for things to come to you; they never will.
• Eat well.
• Get a lot of sleep.
• Get involved with anything that interests you.

• Go to as many orientation events as possible. You’ll learn a lot and meet new people.
• It’s okay to admit you’re wrong.
• It’s okay to defend yourself when you think you’re right.

• Know your limits.
• Talk to your professors as much as possible.
• Try new things! If it scares you, do it twice!

Urban Legends

• There are supposedly ghosts in both the library and Newcomb Hall. The ones in the library are said to have scared one student who was trapped in the library after it closed so badly that his hair went white and he lost his vision.

Traditions

• Sex on the Beach is a long-standing tradition. For over 20 years, the Residence Life staff of Stewart Cleland Hall puts on the party, usually with help from others on the upper side of campus. Sex on the Beach was named one of the 10 best college parties by Playboy magazine and continues to this day.

• At the end of every semester, freshmen congregate to burn their papers from their core classes.

• Oxy has a long-standing tradition of throwing someone into the fountain for their birthday. Many people get together and plan the kidnapping and transportation of the victim, and it’s considered a large compliment to the person being thrown in when there are a lot of people there to do it. When they do find the person on his or her birthday, they capture them, drive or walk them down to the fountain, and throw them into two feet of water.