You'll soon learn that Notre Dame students have their own vocabulary, and we love abbreviations. Although you may be confused at first, you'll learn exactly what a student means when they say: "He's on his way from MCOB to LaFun to get some quarter dogs" or: "She'll meet you at Stonehenge before the SYR." Don't worry, you'll figure it out soon enough, but just in case you're curious here's a brief compilation of some of the vocabulary used at ND.
Acoustic Cafe: Event Thursday nights in Duncan Student Center or Legends of Notre Dame often frequented by students in need of a study break. During COVID, AcoustiCafe was held on the quads, so we'll see where they go in Fall of 2021. The cafe is a great place for students to display their musical talents (or lack thereof).
Administration (Main) Building: Often called the Golden Dome or simply the Dome, the administration building is the most recognizable feature of Notre Dame's campus. Complete with a statue of Mary, the building is located in the center of campus and can be seen from almost anywhere on campus. The Main Building is our creative and official name for the Dome. It houses important offices like Financial Aid and Student Employment. If you're lucky, you might have a Moreau class or philosophy discussion in one of the classrooms upstairs!
AnTostal: Yearly tradition celebrating the final full week of classes. Plenty of free t-shirts, games and events for all to enjoy.
Bengal Bouts: Student boxing tournament held every year as a fundraiser for Holy Cross Missions in Bangladesh. Not only do you get to help out a good cause, but you also get to see your roommate take a few swings at the kid who knows all the answers from your calculus class.
Bond Hall: Previously the architecture building, this is the location of the marching band's popular "step-off" performance before home football games.
Bookstore Basketball: Largest 5 on 5 basketball tournament in the world. With over 500 teams competing every year, this tournament held in the spring is truly a sight to see.
CoMo: The Coleman-Morse Center. The building on South Quad that houses First Year of Studies, Campus Ministry, a computer cluster, and study space.
Compton Ice Arena: Although it's a bit of a hike from Farley, it's home to hockey games and ice shows. On certain days, you can also rent skates and skate there.
CSC: The Center for Social Concerns. The CSC is the place to go if interested in service projects and volunteer opportunities.
C.S.C.: Initials to designate members of the Congregation of Holy Cross (Religious Order who founded our school). Don't get the two "CSC's" confused.
D.A.R.T.: Direct Access Registration by Terminal: It allowed students to register for their next semester's courses. Registration is now done on-line using insideND, but registering for classes is often referred to as "dart-ing".
DeBart: Short for DeBartolo Hall. Classroom building where most classes will be held.
DPAC: Short for DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, a much more entertaining place to be than Debartolo Hall, as it is home to our Film, Television, and Theater department. It's a bit of a hike, but the performances are outstanding.
Dog Book: The freshman register with the names and photos of the entire freshman class. Often used to find last minute date for SYR or...well, really that's all it's used for. With the advent of Facebook this book has been used even less, although it is fun to pull it out and see what people looked like in high school.
Domer: Any ND student, past or present.
du Lac: Student handbook outlining all the rules of regulations at Notre Dame.
Duncan Student Center: The shiny new space that opened on campus during the spring of 2018, and we're still not over it. Located on the north end of Notre Dame Stadium, DuStu/LaDunc/the DiSC (we're still debating on the nickname) hosts everything you could need in one place. There's a gym with free weights, an enormous rock wall, basketball courts, and dozens of fitness classes offered throughout the week. Grab a bite to eat after your workout at any of the restaurants on the first floor, and get to work in any of the countless study spaces throughout the building. It's also home to the Undergraduate Career Services offices, a ballroom on the seventh floor where you might attend a hall formal or two, student media offices, and several club meeting spaces that are open for reservations.
Fall Break: While most schools only get a few days off, the administration rewards us for our hard work with a whole week off during October. This is usually the first time you have the opportunity to return home since August, although some students choose to stay on campus, travel or participate in service projects.
Fieldhouse Mall: Open area between Cavanaugh Hall and Stonehenge fountain. Warm weather brings campus bands, barbecues, and other fun things to do instead of studying.
Flex Points: These dollars that accompany the traditional meal plan can be used to buy some tasty snacks and beverages at the Huddle, Starbucks, Smashburger, Subway, the Duncan Student Center eateries, and other campus food locations. All you do is swipe your ID and it comes out of your account.
God Quad: Home to the Dome, the Basilica, Sorin College, Walsh Hall and the statues of Jesus and Father Sorin. Don't step on this quad's grass if you want to pass your first theo class!
Grab 'N Go: Convenient brown-bag breakfast, lunch, or dinner available from 7am to 7pm when classes are in session.
The Grotto: Replica of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes where students can come to light a candle and spend some quiet time in reflection and prayer.
Hammes-Mowbray Hall: Next to Stepan Center and houses the Notre Dame Post Office and ND Police Department.
Hesburgh: 14-story Library with the mosaic of Touchdown Jesus on its facade. Is a great place to study and has a really nice, new computer lab on the first floor. On the first and second floors you can easily study in a small group, but as you move to higher floors make sure you keep quiet.
Holy Cross College: The co-ed school located adjacent to Notre Dame and part of the tri-campus community, along with St. Mary's College.
Holy Cross: The religious order of priests, brothers, and sisters that inspire the charisms of the university and that founded the tri-campus communities (Notre Dame, St. Mary's, Holy Cross). Their five pillars are mind, heart, zeal, family, and hope, which form the basis of community living at Notre Dame.
Huddle Mart: Small Convenient store in LaFortune where students can purchase food, drinks, toiletries, notebooks, and other base essentials such as the infamous Quarter Dogs.
insideND: Campus Portal which allows you access to Class Registration, Irish Link, etc. This site provides convenient access to Notre Dame Web services for students, faculty, and staff. With more than 100 content channels, the information you need is at your fingertips.
Jordan Hall of Science: Jordan houses all of the undergraduate laboratories for biology and chemistry, a planetarium and state-of-the-art lecture halls. Also has a convenient snack shop, aptly named "A la Descartes".
Joyce Center (the JACC): This venue houses numerous campus events such as basketball games, volleyball, pep rallies, concerts, and lectures.
JPW: Junior Parents Weekend.
LaFun: LaFortune Student Center. Our more senior student center and close to Farley. Trips to "LaFun" usually involve getting food from the Huddle (our little convenience store), Subway, Smash Burger, Starbucks, Taco Bell, or Pizza Hut. Many student organizations have offices here, and there's a computer cluster and lounges too.
Legends: The restaurant, pub and programming venue. Brings in live entertainment and has a nightclub open late nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights. Legends is a great place to find weekend entertainment. Be sure to check your email for updates on concerts and trivia nights!
Library Circle: Car pick up/drop off spot at the east end of the Hesburgh Library.
Main Circle: Car pick up/drop off spot at the main campus entrance on Notre Dame Avenue.
MCOB: Mendoza College of Business.
Michiana: The name of the region along the Michigan-Indiana border, including South Bend.
Monk: Affectionate nickname of the former University President Father Edward A. Malloy.
Moreau: The last name of Blessed Father Basil Moreau, whose vision of Christian education grounds the university. You'll hear quotes from him such as, "Education is the art of helping young people to completeness," and "We shall always place education side by side with instruction; the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart. While we prepare useful citizens for society, we shall likewise do our utmost to prepare citizens for heaven." He is the namesake of the seminary where the Holy Cross priests live by the lakes, as well as the first year student course.
NDH / North: The campus dining hall next to Farley, North Dining Hall. The better of the two campus dinning halls.
NDTV: The cable cast student run TV station that can be seen on channel 53.
NET ID: A computer ID name that, along with your password, gives you access to the Notre Dame network from almost any computer on campus.
Observer: Campus newspaper you'll grow to love.
O'Shag: O'Shaughnessy Hall, location of many Arts and Letters classes, departmental offices, and Waddick's Cafe. O'Shag is also recognizable by the perpetually slow clock on its facade. This clock was also the center of some controversy when the University decided to remove the hands completely, some say to symbolize the timeless nature of the University; others say they did it just to confuse the students.
Parietals: du Lac regulation that outlines visitation hours in dorms of the opposite gender. From 12am to 9am on Sunday through Thursday and from 2am to 9am on Friday and Saturday, members of the opposite gender are only allowed in the 24-hour space in the dorms.
Pop: Midwestern term for Soda.
Quarter Dogs: Infamous hot dogs available in LaFortune for a quarter after 12am on weeknights. Although they may only be a quarter, you don't want to eat too many of them.
RA: Resident Assistant, a senior in each section of the dorm who guides the dorm life of the students.
Rector: Basically the person in charge of each dorm, i.e., the responsible adult.
The Rock: The Rockne Memorial Gymnasium located at the foot of South Quad. Includes raquetball and badminton courts, several weight rooms, and a swimming pool. The basketball courts can also be rented out for residence hall dances!
Rolfs: Athletic facility which is open to all students.
SDH / South: The campus dining hall near the Rock, South Dining Hall.
The Shirt: Football shirt that students wear to all the football games.
St. Mary's College: The all-women's school located adjacent to Notre Dame and part of the tri-campus community, along with Holy Cross College.
Stepan Center: The round, geodesic dome at East Gate.
Stonehenge: War Memorial Fountain located at the foot of North Quad.
SUB: Student Union Board that organizes activities for students.
SYR: Formerly known as "screw your roommate", now changed to mean "set-up your roommate," the SYR is a semi-formal dance.
Touchdown Jesus: Nickname of the mosaic on the side of the library facing the stadium. You'll see why it was so named when you arrive.
Tutorial: Discussion session for large classes.
WSND: Student-run fine arts radio.
WVFI: Student-run progressive station on the second floor of LaFortune.