You certainly won't find these in Webster's...

A

The first letter of the alphabet. It also allegedly appears on grade reports. We'll believe it when we see it.

Acronyms

Used for anything and everything on campus. Examples include buildings (MRDC), majors (ME) and colleges (CoC).

Brittain Beach

The patch of grass in the East Campus quad where freshmen traditionally throw frisbees and sunbathe in summer and spring.

Bursar's Office

The place where you take your money, or your parents' money, or the government's money, but no credit cards...

BuzzCard

Student ID and campus debit card. Don't leave home without it.

BuzzPort

A portal for Georgia Tech web resources, at least we think. Mention BuzzPort to an upperclassman and you'll probably get a puzzled look.

Caffeine

Sleep in a bottle, cup or other non-bed form.

Chem Annex

One-fourth of the College of Computing's building.

Clyde Bumps

Giant speed bumps (near the CoC and CRC, for example) that are only crossable at speeds under five miles per hour (any faster, and you'll make the guys over at Midas very happy and very rich). Named for Clyde Robbins, who at one time was responsible for campus planning. See also Clyde Walks.

Clyde Walks

Term for the sidewalks that have bricks in them. Another useful innovation of Clyde Robbins. See also Clyde Bumps.

Coed

A female college student was first admitted to Tech 52 years ago. Although more sightings are reported each year, females only account for around 30 percent of the student body.

College of Computing Building

The Tool Shed. Think really hard about your favorite CS major and you'll understand. Alternative definitions: EE Annex, Chem Annex.

Complaining

Something all Tech students are expected to do often and well. Good examples can be found on newsgroups and in Technique letters to the editor.

CRC

Campus Recreation Center. A place to exercise and forget about differential equations for a while.

Cumberland College

The school that the Tech football team defeated 222-0 in 1916.

Dead Week

The week before finals during which you are not supposed to have any tests. Be forewarned: some professors don't understand this concept, at all.

Dean's List

Only takes a 3.0...sounds easy, doesn't it? Just wait.

D.M. Smith

History and Social Sciences building across from the library. Does not have a state-of-the-art air conditioning system.

Drop Day

The Friday that marks the last day to drop a class. It's recently been moved to a point later in the semester, taking some of the guessing out of the decision to drop a class. You freshmen have it so easy...

Drownproofing

A P.E. class that was required of all Tech students up until 1988, so if you cannot swim now, do not worry. The class involved being tied up with rope and thrown into a pool. The goal was to allow you to survive indefinitely in the water through a variety of techniques.

E-Mag

PHYS 2212, considered one of the most difficult and/or confusing classes at Tech. Back under the quarter system, the saying used to go, "E-Mag, Re-Mag, Three-Mag, Management."

Faculty Honors

A 4.0? Keep dreaming...

Flag Building

a.k.a. Student Services Building. Houses the Dean of Students office and the Technique.

Flush Letters

Letters of rejection from prospective employers. Three or four will sometimes get you a free meal.

F.O.

Frosted Orange. See The "V."

Gates

The best development in parking, ever. Please do not break them.

Good Word, The

"To hell with Georgia!"

Hill, The

The area filled with old, historic buildings between the Administration Building and the Library. See Tech Tower.

Howey

The Physics Building on the corner of Ferst and Atlantic where many freshman classes are held.

IC Auditorium

a.k.a. Tennenbaum Auditorium, located in the Instructional Center, which is across from the CRC.

Junior's

Campus diner where Tommy serves up some of the world's greatest chicken fingers.

Late Fees

Fees that apply in addition to regular semester fees if your payment is late. Better take out another loan to pay these off.

Library West Commons

Computer lab on the first floor of the library, and perhaps the nicest on campus.

MARTA

Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority-since freshmen don't have cars, this is your way around Atlanta, unless you can sucker an upperclassman into driving.

Midnight Madness

Starting the Sunday before finals and continuing every night during finals, students gather at midnight in public areas around dorms or lean out their windows for the age-old tradition. Promptly at midnight, students scream and yell to relieve the stress of their finals preparation.

Office of Information Technology (OIT)

The campus computer office with a resource center inthe Library.

Olympics

Hosted by Atlanta during the summer of 1996. Tech served as the Olympic Village. Most on-campus apartments were built around this time.

OSCAR

Not a green muppet. Online Student Computer Assisted Registration; it's how you get classes, view your grades, pay your bills and, eventually, check you graduation status.

Parking Permit

Once just a hunting license before former Parking Director Rod Weis stepped in and restored some order; most freshmen can still leave this one out of their vocabulary.

RAT

Any freshman. Recruit At Tech, or Recently Acquired Tech Students. Originates in Tech's strong military roots.

Sliver

A comment, quip, inside joke or one-liner that runs in the Technique Sliver Box. Contribute one at www.nique.net.

Square Root Club

The elite club that only admits members who meet this stringent criteria: The square root of your GPA is greater than your GPA. Get it? Don't strain your brain too hard...

Staff

The hardest-working professor at Tech. He teaches most of the lower-level classes, but never receives any credit. Why isn't he in the course evaluation?

Stinger, Stingerette

Campus vans and buses. They aren't on a strict schedule so budget extra time if you want to make it to class, or just get some exercise and walk. An hour should be enough. See also Tech Trolley.

Student Center Commons

The Houston Building. Used to be the Tech bookstore. Now houses student orgs, WREK Radio, and several stores and restaurants.

Tech Tower

The Administration Building. The Ts atop the tower are probably more heavily guarded than anything else on campus.

Tech Trolleys

Not really trolleys. They're actually Stingers disguised as trolleys, with much more uncomfortable seats. They run from the IC to Technology Square.

Technique

"The South's Liveliest College Newspaper." An excellent distraction during Friday afternoon lectures. Anyone can write for it, regardless of experience, and meetings are every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Room 137 of the Student Services Building.

Technology Square

Tech's giant leap across the Downtown Connector. Home of Barnes and Noble @ Georgia Tech, a hotel, the College of Management, and numerous stores and restaurants.

Thrillerdome

The basketball arena.

"V," The

Varsity drive-in located on North Avenue. At least get a fried pie and an F.O. Also known as "The Greasy V." Claims to be the world's largest drive-in.

Whistle, The

The steam whistle that blows to signal class changes at five minutes before the hour. It also blows whenever Tech wins a home football game, and each spring during the "When the Whistle Blows" remembrance ceremony.

Word

Old tests and notes to help you study for tests. Some professors change their tests all the time, but remember that most people are lazy.