Ohio Northern University is a very unique school with a very unique student body. It resides in the small, cornfield-surrounded town of Ada, Ohio, where the student body population is equivalent to over half the town's population. While we may be small, we take a lot of pride in our school. We also seem to have developed a language that is entirely our own. Anyone unfamiliar with ONU that takes a stroll through our campus may find themselves extraordinarily confused when listening to student conversations. Here is a compilation of phrases entirely unique to this little school, explained:
Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator
1. "I have to cross the Tundra to get to half of my classes."
No, Ohio doesn't have an actual tundra. But our large, open space that is divided by several sidewalks and trees and lies in the middle of our campus very closely resembles one. Those sidewalks become slick with ice and those trees are weighed heavily down by snow during the winter. And no matter what the season, it is the gathering place of the most powerful wind you've ever experienced. Hence, this "space" earns its name: the Tundra. Although it can be very pleasant and beautiful on a calm, sunny day, crossing the Tundra to get to class often turns into a trek.
2. "Beware the black swans."
ONU has several ponds on its campus. There is one pond in particular that three black swans call home year-round. Although they are beautiful creatures (I didn't even know black swans existed before coming here, and they look super cool), they are just like any other swan in their aggressiveness. However, these three swans do not care how close they get to people. If you walk too close in a way they find threatening, they WILL chase you and they WILL attempt to bite you. Many people have fallen victim to these black swans in the past. Beware.
3. "I just experienced a Mac Attack."
McIntosh, AKA "Mac," is the main cafeteria on campus. To put it lightly, it is not known for its tasty or healthy food (it's hard to come by, feel lucky if you find something good to eat). Unfortunately, the food sometimes leads to stomach problems after digestion, and well...you get the idea. We call these "Mac Attacks" and trust me, you don't want to experience one.
4. "I saw the squabbit today!"
ONU is the proud home of a one-of-a-kind animal called a "squabbit." Granted, it used to be a normal squirrel, but something happened to its tail (rumor has it that the poor little guy was run over by a car and lost it then), so now it has a fluffy stub from where it used to be. It hops around just like a rabbit, and without a tail, it looks like a rabbit from afar. As you get closer, you realize it's no rabbit. It's the squabbit.
5. "Today's Wednesday! Lil Mex tonight!"
Lil Mex is the most popular bar to go to in Ada. Every Wednesday, they have karaoke night. Nothing is better than getting together with a bunch of your fellow college students and belting out the lyrics to your favorite song into a microphone in the middle of the week. While most college students may think going to the bar on a Wednesday night is crazy, it is a normal occurrence here at ONU.
6. "Wanna eat at NOM?"
No, we do not mean 'Nam, as in Vietnam. We are not referring to it in any way. NOM stands for Northern On Main, and it is a popular cafe that ties with the school. This way, we can use our Dining Dollars for a cup of Starbucks coffee, a delicious sandwich, or better yet, the Ada icon cinnamon roll, which is around the size of your face.
7. "There's another bike in a tree."
We tend to say this phrase casually, because seeing a bike in a tree here is a common occurrence. Especially early in the first semester, someone's bike falls victim to being stuck up in a tree. It may not be the nicest thing to do to someone, but it's definitely something that is unique to this school.
8. "Polar Bear up!"
How many schools do you know that have a polar bear as their mascot? Better yet, how many do you know who's polar bear mascot is named "Klondike," after the ice cream bars? Case closed: our mascot is better than yours. Go P-Bears!
