The State University of New York (SUNY) College at Oswego is nestled on the shoreline of Lake Ontario in Central New York, it's beautiful it really is...sometimes. College students [hopefully] know their ABC's but SUNY Oswego student's may be able to relate to these a little easier. If you're a prospective student, welcome to the black hole!
A. Alcohol: If you weren't an alcoholic before you enrolled in Oswego, you will be by the time you leave. And for nights that the jungle juice get's the best of you SAVAC will always be there to pick you up and ship you off to Oswego Hospital.
B. Bars: The Guinness Book of World Records gave Oswego, the record for having the most bars per square mile of any city in the USA. So whether you're looking for a quiet townie bar or to turn up in rare form, Oswego's the place for you!
C. Cold: Unless you're from the surrounding area or Alaska the cold is going to be unlike anything you've ever experienced before. Key word: layers
D. D-Bus: Only in Oswego will students be willing to step, stagger or crawl onto a jam packed (seriously don't try to move) shuttle bus and pay $2 per ride to get to and from parties or the bars
E. Extra Curricular's: Believe it or not Oswego has almost 200 clubs that students can join so there's a lot to do on campus, for example The Odyssey!
F. Freshmen Leash: A word of advice to [ALL] students...Stop wearing your lanyard with your student ID around your neck, or I will be tempted to drag you around by it.
G. Greek Life: Most will say that being in a frat or sorority is stupid and overrated, as less than 10% of our campus is involved in Greek life, but don't knock it until you try it.
H. Hockey: Oswego's bread and butter. You won't be able to fully understand the rivalry between Oswego and Plattsburgh until attending a White Out Game. The number of Canadians outweighs the number of Americans but if you weren't obsessed with the players enough already you'll have no problem picking them out of a crowd because they'll be wearing their team Bauer jackets 24/7.
I. Ice: If Ice Grips weren't on your list to Santa you may want to invest before returning in late January, or just ice skates because sorry the hover boards aren't going to get you very far
J. Johnson [Babies]: If you lived in Johnson Hall-the only freshman only dorm- you will forever be known as a Johnson baby. Flaunt it if you want but everyone knows you actually asked to be dropped off at Riggs when you ride the D-Bus.
K. Kraftees: All your college apparel needs at half the price of the college store located inside Campus Center.
L. Lakers: What even is a Laker? Not a single clue, it's just a great day to be one!
M. Marano Campus Center: Newly named after a famous alumni who did really great things for the college, but it will always be known as 'Campus Center' not 'Marano'.
N. Negative Temperatures: Bundle up, class will never be cancelled
O. Ontario: The one beautiful thing that Oswego has to offer are the sunsets over Lake Ontario. We are blessed to rest upon the shoreline and they are absolutely stunning no matter the season
P. Parties: As a freshman the chances are you attended 'open' parties in dirty, hot frat basements, sometimes you would get lucky and be invite to a party in The Village, or get a fake ID and go to the bars. But the biggest party happens the weekend before finals week in the spring semester; three words...Bridge Street Run.
Q. Quest Day: It's a day where classes up until 5:00 PM are cancelled and students present their final research or capstone projects to professors and peers. But it's actually just an excuse for students to day drink and go to night classes drunk...wait did someone mention day drinking?!
R. Rudy's: If you can eat it, chances are it will be deep fried at Rudy's and taste amazing.
S. Snow: Upon attending Oswego and going through winters you don't have to be a meteorology major to be able to tell the difference between snow squalls, showers, lake effect snow, flurries, freezing rain, sleet and hail. And we get enough of it to build a terrain park in the center of the academic buildings
But don't worry professors understand that when it decides to snow that buildings disappear, but classes will never actually be cancelled
T. Townies: There are two types of townies: the ones who are just like you and are normal people, then there are the townie's who sell drugs to students and cook meth in their garages. The headline to the following picture is: "Oswego County pair charged with making meth for second time in 2 months" here's the complete article to read more: http://www.syracuse.com/crime/index.ssf/2015/10/os...
U. Umbrella's do NOT work: Don't be that person that attempts to use an umbrella. Invest in a good rain/snow resistant jacket and put your hood up.
V. VERY Cold: Who doesn't love walking to class through wind tunnels with negative degree wind chills?!
W. Wind: Contrary to popular belief there are no underground tunnels (there should be) or ropes to keep you from blowing over even though you will get blown over, and may the odds be ever in your favor walking through the west campus wind tunnels. Disclosure: The wind was strong enough to push a parked charter bus across a parking lot and into Canales...
X. Xtreme Underground: If you don't have at least one tattoo or piercing you got away at college that you try to hide from mom and dad did you even go to Oswego?
Y. Yik Yak: The anonymous social media app that alerts students on gossip and major events happening around campus. Most recently aiding in the capture of the man (pictured below) who held a girl hostage in Seneca Hall (yes, this really happened).
Z. Zoom Tan: $2 Tuesdays- when girls go from glowing like a ghost to looking like oompa loompa's in a matter of 10 minutes
...Now I know my Oswego ABC's next time won't you come drink with me?
