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FactsSlang
- Club Hillman - Nickname for Hillman Library.
- Hem’s - Hemingway’s Café.
- Ho-Land - Nickname for Holland Hall, an all-female residence hall in the Quad.
- Panther Central - The offices in Towers lobby for the ID service and housing/dining.
- The “O” - The Original Hot Dog Shop.
- The Ashtray - The area outside of Towers; popular for students to smoke and hang out.
- The Quad - Schenley Quad, where eight of the 11 residence halls are located.
- Upper Campus - The area with all the athletic facilities, frats, and newer dorms.
Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming To School
- If you move off campus, you can still get free access to Pitt Internet, even though it’s just dial-up.
- It’s a big party school.
- It’s really easy to meet people on campus.
- It’s the perfect school for those with an undecided major.
- Pitt has a small-campus feel.
- Sometimes you don’t see the sunshine for days at a time.
- The city of Pittsburgh is actually very small.
- There are over 300 student organizations, including intramural sports.
Tips to Succeed
- Ask questions in class.
- Ask upperclassmen about classes or professors you’re thinking about taking—they are one of the best resources for steering you in the right direction.
- Be outgoing—there’s a lot to get involved in.
- Seek out your professors and TAs during office hours.
- Stick with classes you’re interested in.
- Work hard, but take time to relax.
Urban Legends
- Playboy ranked Pitt’s Hillman Library as one of the top places in the country to meet someone of the opposite sex.
- The Chancellor’s Suite, on the 12th floor of Bruce Hall, is haunted.
Traditions
- Hating Penn State - There’s been a longstanding rivalry between Pitt and Penn State, the other college football giant of Pennsylvania. Anti-PSU shirts are sold on the streets in Oakland, and anyone who compares the Pitt Panther to a Nittany Lion is asking for trouble.
- Hating West Virginia University - The rivalry between Pitt and WVU is thanks to the schools close proximity to each other, about an hour’s drive. When the schools play each other in basketball or football, the games are known as the "Backyard Brawl." The football teams' rivalry is considered to be the 14th oldest rivalry in the country. After beating WVU, Pitt students can often be heard singing an "edited" version of the famous song, "Take Me Home" by John Denver.
- Tailgating - Be sure to get there early—real tailgating can start early on football weekends, (7 a.m. for a noon game), and it often ends long after the game at local house parties or fraternities.
- The Oakland Zoo - The official student section during basketball games; this is the place to be if you’re a rabid fan.
- The Panther - The panther was officially adopted as a mascot in 1909 for a number of reasons. Among them: the panther wasn’t being used as any other school’s mascot; its gold color was closest to the University’s gold; it was already known as a noble animal; and, of course, the name alliterated quite well.
- The Panther - The panther was officially adopted as the school's mascot in 1909. Reasons: The panther wasn't currently used as any other school's mascot, the animals gold color was closest to the University's gold, it was known as a noble animal and, of course, the name alliterated quite nicely.
- The University Seal - Pitt’s seal is a variation of William Pitt’s coat of arms. William Pitt was the first Earl of Chatham and served as the British Prime Minister in the 18th century. On the seal, the three dots are gold coins, which denote the Pitt family’s participation in the Crusades; the castle wall signifies the new city; the blue of the checkerboard represents Pitt’s status as an Earl; and the white stands for purity, innocence, and gentleness.
- The Varsity Walk - Between the Cathedral and the Heinz Chapel, you’ll find the sidewalk lined with names, beginning in 1950, and continuing every year. This is the Varsity Walk, a tribute to students who have moved through the University with outstanding athletic and academic achievements.
School Spirit
Pitt students are known for having lots of school spirit. Faces are painted blue and gold, cheers are shouted at major sporting events, and many games sell out. Pitt gear is abundant around campus, and you’ll even spot students or alumni across the country because of clothing, bumper stickers, or other slogans. The Oakland Zoo follows the Pitt basketball team with more passion than an over-acted soap opera. School pride isn’t a requirement for coming to Pitt, but it doesn’t need to be—students develop it well enough on their own.
Most Recent Contributing Author
Name: Courtney Vock
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Major: Creative Non-Fiction Writing Courtney dares you to challenge her to a "Friends" quote/trivia-off. Contributing Author Internship
College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating
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