San Diego State University - Inside Scoop

School Slang

• Blackboard - An online learning environment accessible from the school’s Web site. Teachers often post assignments, grades, and other information here.
• Chappy - Chapultepec is an 11-story high-rise dormitory that houses 540 students. It is located on the west side of campus across from Tony Gwynn Stadium.
• Cuic - This term refers to both the Cuicacalli suites, and the dining hall located above them. Cuicacalli is located on the east side of campus and consists of suite-style accommodations for 686 residents. The Dining Hall at Cuic is an all-you-can-east style buffet that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Friday and brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
• Downtown - Downtown San Diego. A number of upscale clubs and bars are located in this area.
• Frat Row - Located on Hardy Avenue, this is where a number of parties occur on weekends, and you will find plenty of people walking down the street.
• Gaslamp - The Gaslamp District is a section of downtown San Diego that is home to numerous restaurants, bars, and clubs.

• Monty Montezuma - San Diego State’s old mascot. He is now known as the Aztec Warrior.
• Monty’s - Now known as Louie’s Pub, the bar in the Student Center is often still referred to by its former name. If you’re 21, you can grab a brew or two in- between classes.
• OB - Ocean Beach.
• PB - Pacific Beach, where there is plenty of surfing and nightlife.
• Piedra - Piedra Del Sol Apartments. This property is only available for upperclassmen, and it is located next door to Frat Row.

• State - This is the abbreviation for San Diego State. SDSU is commonly referred to as “state” in the local area.
• The AC - The Aztec Campus apartments, next to Piedra Del Sol.
• The ARC - The Aztec Recreation Center, or “the gym,” contains a weight room, a cardio room, a fitness room, and several courts for basketball and indoor soccer.
• The Zoo - Zura Hall. The Zoo is located next to Tenochca and the LLC. It is nicknamed the Zoo because of the quality of the property, as well as the animalistic partying nature of its residents.
• UT - University Towers.

Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming To School

• Even though you pay a lot of money to park, security monitoring your car is not that effective and not much of a priority.
• Having classes at night so you can sleep in the next morning isn’t the best of ideas.
• If you are caught riding your skateboard across campus, you risk paying a nice fine.
• Campus housing policy is extremely strict in regards to illegal substances.
• Challenging a residence hall violation will do nothing, no matter how persuasive your argument is.

• If you wear socks with your sandals, you will be shunned, and rightfully so.
• Mexico is only fun the first few times you go.
• Panda Express is addictive; once you start, you can’t stop.
• People here tend to dress in the latest fashions and take great pride in their appearance.
• The campus is large; be prepared to walk around a lot.

• There are a lot of college kids in San Diego, especially community college kids.
• Watch out for future construction zones when apartment hunting.
• When you tell people you go to school here, expect the “party school” response.
• Your parents make you pay for your own things in college, empty their wallets while you still can.
• Zura Hall is the most rundown of all the dorms.

Tips to Succeed

• Balance your time between school and partying.
• Always attend class, even though your professors may post slides on Blackboard or their Web site. Going to class better explains the slides.
• Be involved in your classes and ask questions.

• Don’t overwhelm yourself with the nightlife here. Make sure that you are on top of your studies, and realize that there is more to college than simply “getting hammered.” Many people who have lost sight of their studies drop out of school after one or two semesters.
• Get involved in student organizations. The Centers for Student Involvement can help you find one of the 250 student organizations that pique your interest.
• Get to class early and sit in the front.

• Talk to your professors once in a while and get to know them.
• Try to organize your schedule with classes back to back, otherwise you’ll be at school all day long.
• Use ratemyprofessor.com to choose your professors.

Urban Legends

• Zura Hall, the oldest of all the dormitories, is home to “the marble ghost.” Supposedly, before becoming a dormitory, Zura was one of San Diego’s largest mental facilities. A little boy who loved playing with marbles was admitted to the hospital after attacking his parents in their sleep one night. One fateful night in the hospital, the little boy simply disappeared. The doctors and nurses were shocked. For the next few months, his voice could be heard laughing and playing with his marbles throughout the halls of the facility. Police searched all throughout the hospital but found nothing. The haunting continually took place at the facility until it was forced to shut down a year later. After a few years of isolation, the building became occupied once again as housing for college students. The ghost of the little boy can still be heard every night playing with his marbles. There have been numerous reports regarding the sound of marbles dropping on the floor at nighttime, and a few people claim to have seen his ghostly spirit as well.

Traditions

• Azfest - Azfest offers a main concert, as well as numerous other bands on two stages. A relatively new event, this music festival is shaping up to be one of SDSU’s finest traditions.
• Family Weekend - Family weekend is a time to celebrate family, friends, and San Diego State University. Families and friends are encouraged to join students in various activities throughout the weekend including football games, college life, and more.

• Homecoming - Homecoming week involves numerous events for both current SDSU students as well as alumni. During the week, the Homecoming court is chosen, and there are various festivities happening around campus. The week ends with an Aztec football game at Qualcomm Stadium, which is the most populated game of the year.
• Spring Fiesta - This is spring’s answer to Homecoming. During Spring Fiesta, Associated Students sponsors a number of events including student-organized food stations, game and entertainment booths, and all other sorts of entertainment. Past entertainment events have included a hypnotist, karaoke, art contests, battle of the bands, dancing contests, and a Family Feud-style game.

• Welcome Week - A week designed to help new students adjust to the school. Welcome Week encompasses a variety of programs that welcome students to San Diego State University and campus life.