Every college has its own lingo, traditions, and unique culture that students come to know and love as they progress through their college career. Here at Naz, there are multitudes of slang terms, inside jokes, and habits that most of the students participate in that really make them feel like part of the community, and is one of the many reasons our students love it here. In order to assimilate better as a freshman, I’m here to tell you all the ins and outs of our Naz culture that make it so great.
- We call it GAC, not Golisano Academic Center. I’m sure this began as a way to shorten the name, but everyone I know calls the liberal arts building GAC (pronounced ‘gack’) instead of Golisano. Make sure when you come in and out of the building that you use the right hand side door so you don’t hold up foot traffic.
- We also call the Cabaret “the Cab.” It’s a great late night food spot with wraps, sandwiches, and all the greasy grill food a college student could want.
- We recommend not wearing your lanyard around your neck. The easiest way to pick a brand new freshman out from a crowd is if they are wearing their lanyard around their neck. During orientation most of your peers will do this, especially since you’re not carrying around backpacks at the time, but one classes start and you’re running from one building to the next, do you really want your keys, swipe card, and security escort beeper bumping against your chest?
- Walk on the right side of the tunnels at a normal pace. People get antsy when others walk side by side and block the people coming toward them, or if they walk too slow and are not able to pass by you. Just go with the flow!
- Be quiet in the quiet section of the library. The students sitting in the quiet section are there for a reason, and if you walk in on the phone or talking to a friend you can disrupt their focus. Be polite, and quiet – you can always take your call or conversation outside and come back!
- You don’t want to miss Battle of the Beaks or Springfest. Battle of the Beaks happens twice a year when Naz basketball plays St. John Fisher College. The proceeds from the event always go to charity. Springfest is also a big Naz tradition, where students gather on campus to celebrate the end of classes with a famous band or artist and plenty of food and games to keep you going until dark.
These are my personal tips on how to better understand Naz culture, but there is so much more I haven’t written here. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me or one of the other social media team members for some advice. Don’t be worried, you’ll fit right in with your new family from the moment you step foot on campus.