Before enrolling at WPI, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, I was very unaware of the terminology used throughout campus. For those who are new students or those who have not had the pleasure of attending WPI, here's a guide to how urban dictionary would define life at WPI:
Daka (Disclaimer: also referred to as Moco, Morgan Commons Dining, "The POD", or simply the dining hall)
New students cannot avoid this place we call Daka. It serves as the only dining hall on campus. Upon swiping into this land of fears and tears, students are welcomed to a buffet style dining service. The first room on the right is known as "The Spoon." The food in there can vary but it commonly has stir fry, an omelet station, good fried chicken or french fries, and flatbread pizza served on cardboard bread (it is actually good pizza, but not as good as the pizza at the pizza station. Buffalo chicken pizza always wins over any flatbread pizza). The main room is where the magic happens. At the grill, you can custom order your burger, chicken sandwich, steak and egg and cheese sub, and various other options. There is always a salad bar, soup, cereal, and toast offered. The final station is always a new special of the week, usually with some ethnic style of cooking (which is my favorite). The last room is also a fan favorite. The sandwich station is the bomb.com, the pizza is always dangerously delicious, and pasta is always a great last resort option to have.
*Note: The staff in Daka does not appreciate students calling it that. In their presence, please refrain from using this term.
Daka/POD Cookies
While a non-WPI student would assume Daka cookies are self-explanatory cookies you get from Daka, any good WPI student knows they are so much more than that. Daka cookies are the addictive drug every WPI student needs. No one is sure what the ingredients for these cookies are, but upon a simple nibble you will not be able to stop eating them. The most dangerous thing a student can do is eat a cookie when it is fresh out of the oven. These cookies are always warm, chewy, and keep you coming back for more...and more...and more.
The Freshman 15
The weight you gain from eating Daka cookies.
Fran:
The nicest angel you will meet at WPI. Fran is one of the employees in the Pulse on Dining Marketplace. Every time you walk in, Fran swipes your card with a huge grin on her face. She is the heart and soul of this school and is the reason I went to the POD so often. I miss seeing Fran everyday :(
The Seal
How an average human would define the seal: "I went to the aquarium and saw the seal."
How a WPI student would define The Seal: A circular artifact of WPI that holds the power to make you not graduate. If you step on the seal, legend has it that you will not graduate on time. You do however have a ten second grace period where you can run to the Gompei The Goat Statue and rub the tail (or hooves or nose). Even in the winter there is a clear ring of snow around where the seal lies.
The CC
"Isn't CC when you put another address on your e-mail...?" Clearly someone saying this is not a WPI student. The CC is the Rubin Campus Center, a spot where students can be found doing homework, hanging out, meeting in conference rooms, enjoying the food options available, and maneuvering through the Dunkin Donuts maze of a line. The CC is by far the best location on WPI's campus.
Dunkin Donuts
Heaven. America WPI runs on Dunkin. The Albanian staff women who work at Dunks are the fastest working people I've ever seen. Half of them practically know my entire order by heart...on top of the orders of 250 other students. Although the line may be weaving in and out of the floors and even around the building, you can have five minutes until class and still only be two minutes late! Amazing!
Goat Bucks/ Bonus Points
This form of currency is stronger than the Euro. It not only can be used at Dunkin Donuts and the Campus Center food court, but also at The Boynton, a delicious and cheap restaurant nearby campus. It's also a great way to get money from your parents. By telling them you want a commuter meal plan you can then convince them that goat bucks is a better deal and have free food whenever you want.
Magic Wednesdays
WPI has this glorious occurrence called Magic Wednesdays. Often times, students find that their schedules do not include a class on Wednesday. This magical moment means you have all day to sleep in, Netflix and chill, stay in the dining hall for three hours (from lunch to dinner all with one swipe), and kill time doing anything un-productive. It also means you have the opportunity to "Tech Tuesday".
Tech Tuesday
With a Magic Wednesday comes a Tech Tuesday. Some people believe their lack of class on Wednesday grants them the right to go out on the town and party all night. However, although people associate Tech Tuesday with alcoholic activities, I personally enjoy this time relaxing and catching up on TV...Netflix, no chill.
GPS
Most people hear the word GPS and think of the Global Positioning System used in cars to find directions. At WPI, GPS is the best/worse class you will ever take. It is beneficial to get some early exposure working with a team on a project. However, from the students I have talked to who've taken the class, GPS is the worst thing that has ever existed.
There are many other terms you'll need to know before coming to WPI, but this list a very good start.
Peace, Love, WPI
