As any culture will, college comes with its own dialect. Unfortunately, while Tufts doesn't offer a prep course that fulfills your language requirement, you will be tested on these. Study up. Nodding and smiling only works for so long.
Active Citizenship — n. Broad term among a family of do-good qualities ascribed to Tufts students. Definition unclear. In the same family: diversity, problem solvers.
Students at Tufts University are diverse, but they are all active citizens and problem solvers.
Aidekman — n. Black hole into which drama students disappear for the majority of the year.
-I haven't seen my roommate in days. Should I call TUPD?
-Have you checked Aidekman?
Bias Incident — 1. n. Term popularized by the "bias incident" of April 9, 2009, in which a student shouted racial slurs at members of the Korean Students Association, got into a fight and was then suspended. 2. n. Derivative of above definition. Blanket term for any offensive incident.
If you don't stop with your racist shenanigans, I'm going to report a bias incident.
Frat Row (Also Pro Row) — n. Slang for Professor's Row and home to most Greek houses. Bustling on weekends.
Dude, let's pound these forties and head to Frat Row.
Gifford House — n. Most coveted real estate on campus, home to University President Lawrence Bacow and wife Adele.
I can't wait until Senior Dinner to finally glimpse the interior of Gifford House.
Go Jumbos! — excl. Appropriate remark at the sight of any elephant, live, inanimate or imagined.
Go Jumbos!
Joey — n. Shuttle bus between Tufts and Davis Square. Not to be confused with other white, unmarked vans.
Are you sure that Joey is safe to get into?
Mass-hole — 1. n. A bad driver from Massachusetts 2. excl. Expression of road-rage when caught behind one in traffic.
Get out of the way, Mass-hole!
Meal In (Also Guest In) — tr. v. To give someone else entry to the dining hall using a guest meal.
I lost my ID. Can you meal me in?
Meffa (Also Medfid) — n. Medford, native pronunciation.
Tufts is in Meffa, Massachusetts.
NQR — n. acronym. Officially, the Nighttime Quad Reception. Really, the Naked Quad Run, an age-old tradition in which the student body drinks itself silly and streaks the Res Quad.
Are you running NQR?
Orientation — n. Three-day festival of debauchery and bonding during which you meet a fifth of your classmates, many of whom you will next see on the quad sophomore year and shout a passing hello to and then again senior year, when you will think for a minute about whether to wave before deciding not to.
-Remember me? We met at Orientation.
-No.
Public Journal — n. Notebook left in Tower Café filled with anonymous secrets, gossip and ponderings.
You're cheating on me? I recognized your handwriting in the Public Journal, you jerk!
Rape Steps — pl. n. Stairs behind Carmichael. According to legend, built to be the length of a woman's stride so as to help her escape from rapists to the shelter of campus.
I'll meet you at the bottom of the Rape Steps for lunch.
Res Quad — n. Housing quad next to the academic quad. According to legend, once home to a reservoir. Now home to guitar players and spontaneous sports games.
We're playing some Ultimate on the Res Quad later.
TEMS — 1. n. acronym. Tufts Emergency Medical Services. 2. tr. v. To call TEMS to assist a friend, usually a drunk one.
Don't TEMS me, bro! This is my third strike!
Townie — n. Full-time resident of Medford or Somerville. Sometimes used negatively.
Are you going to invite townies to your party?
Trick-Turn — v. see "How to survive on a college student's budget."
TUPD — n. acronym. Tufts University Police Department. Great for late-night rides uphill.
I'm sleepy. Let's call TUPD for an escort.
Walnut Hill — n. Where you now live. Not used colloquially.
Wren Bug — n. Species of creepy crawler found exclusively in Wren Hall.
Um, let's hang out in my room. No offense, but yours is infested with Wren Bugs.
Editor's Note: This article contains information adapted from a similar feature in the Sept. 2, 2009 issue.
