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FactsSlang
- Cardiff By LA - Slang for Cardiff by the Sea, as in, it is almost as far as LA (it’s not).
- Del Far - Slang for Del Mar, as in, it is far away.
- Fat Pad - Jenny Craig Pavilion.
- Hahn, Hahn’s, Hahnny’s - Short for the Hahn University Center. It’s always a race to see who will be the first to make the “going to the Hahn solo?” joke.
- Mission - Short for Mission Beach.
- PB, OB, IB - Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach respectively.
- Public Safety - not really slang, but the word for campus police. Many other terms are often used . . .
- Sea of Red - Beachcomber.
- Solana Reach - Slang for Solana Beach, again playing on its distance from campus.
- The ‘Comber’ - Beachcomber.
- The Fox - Short for local bar the Silver Fox.
- The Knolls - Santa Anita Mission Apartments.
- The Palms - Palm Trees near Camino/Founders.
- The UC - Also short for the Hahn University Center.
- The Valley - Missions Apartments.
- University of Spoiled Daughter’s - Hey, the school is two-thirds women . . .
- Virgin Vault - Camino/Founders dorm.
Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming To School
- At least one trip to office hours before tests is basically mandatory.
- Attending every class is harder than you think.
- Encore meal plan money is better than regular meals.
- It is more strict than other universities.
- It is not a major party school.
- No one remembers if you miss orientation week events.
- Rush week is too fun to miss, even if you aren’t going to ‘Go Greek.’
- Traffic is really terrible.
- USD is not a Jesuit school, but it does take its Catholic tradition seriously. A great many students attend mass regularly.
Tips to Succeed
- Be as immune as possible to gossip.
- Be relaxed. USD and San Diego are mellower than most places in the United States.
- Become an e-mail addict.
- Bring graded papers and tests to office hours and dispute bad grades.
- Don’t worry about your roommates (or rival’s) income bracket.
- Get in the habit of going to class. It’s hard to make up lost points.
- Go to each professor’s office hours at least once before midterms. It seems hard at first, but it is always worth it.
- Make friends with locals and students from other universities.
- Take advantage of the beach. Learn to surf. Play intramural sports.
Urban Legends
- A naked stalker from Black’s Beach has been following a coed on campus . . .
- Camino/Founders is secretly trying to brainwash and recruit new nuns.
- Local radio station 91X broadcasts from Tijuana in order to circumvent government regulations.
- The annual grunion run, where fish swim ashore to breed, is actually true.
Traditions
- Catholic Tradition - USD is a Catholic school, and the religious element of the University has been a little glossed over so far in the book. This is due in large part to enlightened University policy that is nothing like the religious recruiting strategy many students envision when they consider applying or first arrive. As University literature simply states, “Because early academics believed that God is truth, they had no fear in consulting all sources including Islamic and Jewish scholars in their search for truth. They believed the learning experience was enriched through diversity. More than single-faith based policy; USD’s tradition is more one of free inquiry rooted in serving others and developing a faith community. Acting on Catholic teaching and philosophy is the major goal of University administration.”
- Father Serra Foot Massage for Luck - Didn’t study for that economics final? Totally clueless about the difference between Fitzgerald and Faulkner? Rub the toes of the statue in front of Serra Hall, and all will become clear.
- Harbor Cruises - At some time, in some capacity, and in some affiliation with a USD club, fraternity, or sorority, you will probably experience a harbor cruise on the big bay of San Diego. Usually a formal or semi-formal event, something about sailing about in an old-style pleasure boat consistently grabs students’ interest.
- Homecoming - Homecoming is an important event for all Toreros past and present. USD hosts an impressive tailgate party before the football game, as well as a rather competitive alumni golf tournament that students often attempt to crash.
- Midnight Scream - At the stroke of midnight during finals week. Everyone takes a deep breath and...unwitting passersby may fear the end of the world.
- Over-The-Line - While it isn’t a USD event, Over-the-Line is enormously popular with students on campus. Each spring, teams from all over compete in San Diego to see who can hit softballs the farthest. Minimal running and maximum beer intake are usually involved.
- O-Week - Orientation Week is a nice way for the University to welcome all of the tired, huddled freshman masses to school. The usual by-product is that after five days of fun and irresponsibility, any semblance of academic motivation has completely evaporated by the time classes actually begin. O-Week is an enormously good time when students gather for a festive free-for-all.
- Peaman Biathlon - The physically fit, and some of their ironic classmates, compete every spring in the Peaman Biathlon. Twenty-five laps in the pool and a three mile run spells fun. Students often form relay teams to make the workload more realistic. There is often a raffle and a party afterwards.
- Philanthropy Week - Sororities compete to raise money for local charities. All the normal highlights apply, as well as the especially entertaining Watermelon Bash March, involving melon carving and decorative watermelon car parades.
- Shumway Fountain Swim - Let’s face it, at some point in all our lives, we’ve wanted to jump into a decorative fountain. At USD, while it might not necessarily be sanctioned, it probably won’t lead you to being arrested.
- Surfing - Do I really need to explain?
- The Colachis Plaza Echo - Colachis Plaza has a famous spot to stand from where you can hear a powerful echo. There is a plaque on the west side of the plaza, and if you stand by the plaque and face across the plaza and yell, you can carry on a great, although repetitive, conversation with yourself.
- Voyage to the Top of the Imacculata - You’ll either have to be some sort of cat burglar, or have a slick rap with the security guards, but a visit here is a must for any USD student worth their salt. Not to be done while the bells are ringing.
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