WPI Speak

If you're going to know your way around campus, you're going to have to know the lingo. WPI has a lot of unique words and phrases used to describe the campus, curriculum, and surrounding area. The glossary below will get you off to a head start.

• The B is a place one can always find WPI students. And WPI meal plan "PLUS" points can be used at The Boynton restaurant for a cheap, tasty dinner!
• The Banana is one of the campus boundaries, where Institute Road splits and re-attaches over a one-block span. This tropical fruit-shaped plot of land lies just to the southeast of Boynton Hall. Example: "I'm living on the banana this year."
• The Beech Tree stands directly between Alden Memorial and Higgins Labs; it's used as a navigational point on campus. The grassy area surrounding it is a great place to grab some shade and enjoy good weather!
• C-Squared is an evolution of CC, which stands for the Campus Center. It's no secret that we use a lot of acronyms at WPI, and since we're so math and science oriented, CC quickly evolved into C-Squared as a way to verbally reference the Campus Center.
• DAKA (pronounced day-kuh; stands for Dining And Kitchen Administration) was the catering service for food on campus in past years. Even though Chartwells is now in charge of keeping our stomachs full, old habits die hard, and students still refer to both Morgan Commons (the main dining hall) and Dining Services as DAKA.
• The Fountain is located at one of the main intersections on campus. Students often pass by it (or through it) on their way to class. It's a meeting place - a great spot to hang out on nice days; sometimes organizations set up fund-raising events there! There's even wireless Internet at the Fountain, so you can enjoy the ambiance and be productive.
• Goat's Head refers to the school mascot. Believe or not, WPI students bronzed the actual head of the black goat mascot back in the 1890s when it died! We've since replaced it with a replica goat's head, but it still holds the same value. Each year the winning class of the Rivalry earns the rights to the Goat's Head trophy. It must be present at each Rivalry event, and chaos usually ensues once it makes its appearance. There's not much WPI students won't do to get their hands on the Goat's Head!
• Gompei is the name adopted for our spirited goat mascot. (Not many schools have a goat for a mascot - even fewer have one with such an unusual name.) The original goatkeeper for our (living!) mascot was Gompei Kuwada, Class of 1893, so chosen because he was the only student with the initials G.K.
• The Hill is where most of WPI's campus is at the top of a big hill. We'll often refer to campus as "The Hill". We also use "The Hill" in reference to WPI's Administration. Examples: "I've got class in 10 minutes - I need to go up the Hill." "The Hill is changing the way we register for classes."
• The IGSD is home base for WPI's global program. If you want to complete a project at any of our off-campus sites, you'll become very familiar with the Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division.
• The IQP is one of the exciting opportunities WPI gives undergraduates. The Interactive Qualifying Project (Interactive Project) relates society with technology - we're using our technical know-how to make positive changes in the world.
• M*A*S*H sessions are taught by upperclassmen who really know their stuff. These student mentors provide extra Math And Science Help in introductory math and science classes - a great way to review before exams, or get help with a homework assignment.
• The MQP is a chance for us to show our stuff! We gather all the knowledge we've learned in classrooms and lab, and apply it to this hefty senior Major Qualifying Project (Major Project). By creating and developing innovative approaches, we're making real contributions to our fields.
• NR is what you'll get if you don't achieve a C or better in a course at WPI. There's No Record - you won't get a big red F on your transcript, but you'll need to retake the course, if your major requires it. (NR is sometimes used as a verb.) Examples: "It looks like my grade will be an NR." "I've never NR'd a class!"
• The Rivalry is one of the biggest of WPI's many traditions. The freshman and sophomore classes compete for points in several Rivalry events each year, including the Rope Pull, WPI Celebrity Squares, and Traditions Day activities (Pennant Rush, Cage Ball, and WPI Jeopardy). The class with the most points wins rights to the Goat's Head trophy.
• The Rope Pull is the most popular Freshman-Sophomore Rivalry Event. It's held at Homecoming, before or after the football game. This giant tug-of-war takes place at Institute Park, right next to campus.
• The Seal can be found in the middle of the Quad. (It's not the largest seal on campus - that one is on the side of Goddard Hall). Tradition has it that if you step on the seal, you won't graduate on time. Avoid it at all costs!
• Shack Pizza is a delicacy that can be found only at WPI! The Shack has barbeque sauce, bacon, and french fries for toppings. It's a delicious WPI tradition!
• Snowflakes might be fun to watch in the winter - but you don't want to snowflake at WPI! If you've snowflaked, it means you've NR'd all three classes in a single term. Example: "I hope I don't snowflake this term."
• SocComm brings loads of fun programming to campus. The WPI Social Committee is responsible for Quadfest, coffeehouses, weekly movies, comedians, concerts, trips, and lots more!
• Stod Quad is our affectionate name for the grassy area in the middle of the Stoddard Complex (three residence halls). It's a great place to play Frisbee or hang out on a nice day.
• The Sole is a likely destination when your parents are in town, or when you're going on a date. An upscale seafood restaurant, The Sole Proprietor is located just a stone's throw from campus.
• T Sams is a Mexican restaurant, more formally known as Tortilla Sam's, just two doors down from The B. Its late-night dining hours and cheap, good eats make it a hot spot for Tech students.
• The Wedge is the triangular area that connects Morgan and Daniels Halls. It's a common meeting place - especially when a large group of students are going to dinner together.
• Two Towers depict the first two buildings on campus. Both erected in 1868, Boynton Hall was the classroom building and Washburn Shops was a manufacturing facility. The towers of these buildings have come to symbolize the blending of theory and practice that is at the core of the WPI curriculum.

Glossary compiled by Kathleen Powers '05.

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