I love going to a small school. Everyone knows everyone else and you get this feeling like you’re a part of something bigger. You’re in a family. And like any good family, LVC has managed to come up with some weird ‘insider’ colloquiums. These things make almost no sense to anyone that hasn’t spent at least a few days on campus. They’re the little quirks that make me love my school even more. So, in order to help decode some of these things for future Dutchman and Dutchman friends alike, I’ve compiled a list of thing people that don’t go to LVC get confused about and their meanings.
1. “Do you wanna make a c-store run?
Meaning: Do you want to go to the convenience store on campus?
The first time I heard this was at freshman orientation. My peer mentor mentioned passing the “c-store” while giving me directions and I honestly was so confused. Why don't we just say “convenience store”, LVC? Granted, now I say “c-store” too but it gets me weird looks at home.
2. “Is there a UG tonight?”
Meaning: Is the underground open? (The dance ‘club’ on campus)
On the first Saturday night of my freshman year of college, my itinerary listed the “Underground” as one of the activities. It was in the basement of the college center and opened at 12:00am. What we found was something no one was expecting. Basically, a combination of a middle school dance and college greeted us at the door. My friends and I had a ton of fun that first night at the “Underground”. However, once the upperclassmen came onto campus we officially learned that no one actually calls it the “Underground” but rather the “UG”. We did not make the mistake of calling it the “Underground” again. When I mentioned stories of the “UG” to my friends back at home, people looked at me like I had six heads.
3. “I’m in Mary Green.”
Meaning: I am currently in the residence hall named after Mary Capp Green
I lived in this residence hall my freshman year. I loved it so much but I never understood why people at home would look at me weird when I mentioned being in Mary Green. It only recently occurred to me that this does sound kinda weird and that to any who didn’t know it was a residence hall, it would be seen as a little creepy.
4. “I really don’t want to walk to Gold.”
Meaning: I am a freshman parked in the freshman parking lot (the Gold Lot) which is .5 miles away from campus
I don’t think I’ve ever complained about anything more in my life like I’ve complained about walking to Gold lot. LVC is so tiny that the .5 miles it takes to walk to Gold Lot feels like an eternity. Anyone that doesn’t go to LVC does not know this struggle. There were times that I would literally cancel plans if it meant walking all the way out to Gold to get my car.
5. “IT’S CHICKEN TENDER THURSDAY!”
Meaning: The dining hall has chicken tenders, waffle fries, and Mac & Cheese!
As a vegetarian, you’d think I wouldn’t be excited about a day called “Chicken Tender Thursday” but you’d be wrong. It was one of my favorite days of the week because the Mac & Cheese and waffle fries are amazing. My friends back at home would honestly text me confused whenever I posted anything online about my love for “Chicken Tender Thursday”.
