[tabs style="vertical" title="Contents"] [tab title="What Does That Mean? - Elon Lingo"]
What Does That Mean? - The Elon Lingo
The Phoenix Card -- This is your lifeline on campus and off. Without your Phoenix card, you can't get into your dorm, you can't swipe into the academic buildings after hours, you can't use your meal plan, you can't use printing dollars, and the list goes on. Keep it with you at all times, even when you're going off-campus, because the Phoenix Cash you load onto it can be used at many off-campus locations like LoYo, Lowe's and dozens of restaurants and stores nearby.
The Fighting Christians -- Elon's old team name, The Fighting Christians, was changed in 1999 in favor of The Phoenix. Though long gone, the name is hardly forgotten and has been resurrected as the name of a burger at the new restaurant around the corner from Acorn Coffee Shop, The Root Trackside.
The Biobus -- If you don't have a car, you're not alone--and luckily, you're not stranded. Use the biobus to get off campus to the movie theater, grocery store, Target and more but be sure you pay close attention to the hours. The biobus also runs around campus and picks up students from their off-campus apartments and Danieley Center, but take care to note that not all routes run at the same time every day. Check here for the latest schedule (LINK).
The Boobs/Moobs--The two grassy knolls in Young Commons in front of Moseley Center are affectionately known to students as the boobs or moobs--Moseley Boobs--for obvious reasons. On beautiful days, you'll see a lot of students playing frisbee here or doing homework in the shade.
Under the Oaks--You might think of this as a description rather than the name of a place, but at Elon "Under the Oaks" always refers to the area between West Hall and West parking lot, because it is, in fact, under the oaks. This is where you'll gather together as a class for the first time, during convocation, and the last time, during graduation.
South Campus--You've heard of the residence areas East, West and North, but South is new to you. That's okay. South Campus is where you'll find the intramural fields, the driving range, Holly House--home to Catholic Campus Ministry and a small handful number of residents--and Harden Club House, where you can rent equipment like corn hole sets. There's also a chapel over here and the building for University Advancement and Alumni Relations.
Killer cookies--The killer cookie is a much-loved Elon tradition, consisting of a warm chocolate chip cookie, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and bananas.
Billy House--The William R. Kenan Jr. Honors Pavilion is across from the International Pavilion in the Academic Village, where Lindner Hall is located. About two dozen Honors Fellows live here and "Billy House" is the preferred term for the building. We can't really say who came up with this idea in the first place, but our best guess is that it just sounds less pretentious than saying "Oh, yeah, I live over in the Honors Pavilion."
Koury Athletic Center, Koury Business Center --More widely used and less confusing terms for these buildings are "Alumni Gym" and "KOBC." The gym is across from the library and KOBC is next to Colonnades, but try not to make assumptions--classes are held in both of these buildings, so double-check before you head off to class on your first day.
Belk Library and William Henry Belk Pavilion --Belk Library is next to Moseley Center in the heart of campus, while Belk Pavilion is home to CATL, the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, and is in the Academic Village.
El Centro --El Centro is where students go for extra help and cultural activities that go along with learning Spanish. You don't have to take a formal class to get involved with El Centro and they actually offer free conversation classes several times a week to keep your skills strong. If you log a certain number of hours in El Centro over the course of two years, you'll have earned yourself a free round-trip flight to any Spanish-speaking country.
'Nades--Also known as Colonnades. Refers most often to the dining hall, but also to the residence halls of the same name that surround it.
Yeager, McCrary, Black Box--These three theaters are in the performing arts center overlooking Lake Mary Nell and next to Alumni Gym.
LaRose Digital Theater--This is in Koury Business Center on the first floor. Take the first right as you walk in.
Free Speech Zone--Also known as the "West Lawn," between Moseley Center and Lake Mary Nell, this space was recently commissioned as the location for protests and student gatherings that are pre-approved by the University. Written requests to use the space for activism or student events must be submitted 24 hours before the event.
Danieley Center/Danieley Commons --Danieley Center is a village-like cluster of apartments and residence halls just past the Colonnades and the Danieley Commons is where DC residents can relax, play foozeball, get late-night wraps and snacks in a small convenience store and work out in a small, exclusive exercise room.
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[tab title="Where do I sleep? - Residential Life"]
Where do I sleep? - Residential Life
North Area --Currently under construction, this is the future home of the international dorm and currently houses Moffit and Staley halls. North Area was previously one of the largest neighborhoods on campus with Coclough (pronounced "coke-lee"), Chandler and Maynard. Harden dining hall is still open this semester except for on weekends, but the new international dining hall adjacent to Moseley Center iis scheduled to open in January.
East Area --This is where you'll find Smith, the only all-boys dorm, Carolina, one of the all-girls dorms in addition to Hook, Brannock and Barney--also known as HBB, since they're connected--and the two dorms in the Academic Village, the Honors Pavilion and the International Pavilion. East area is close to many academic buildings and the tennis courts, but there is no dining hall immediately in East's vicinity and the closest are McEwen and Colonnades.
West Area --Home to West, Virginia, Sloan and Trollinger House, West Area is extremely close to many of the academic buildings on campus. West is one of the few all-girls halls and is also the oldest building on campus. Students in West Area can get free toilet paper from the Area Office on the first floor of Sloan and can hang out in West Parlor, which underwent renovations this summer to make it look more modern. The closest dining hall is McEwen and Acorn Coffee Shop and Elon Town Center are just across the street. If you have a car, there is a parking lot behind West, but be careful--it's a faculty and staff only lot during the school week. Don't forget to move your car after the weekend, because you will be towed and fined at least $100.
Danieley Center-- Danieley Center Neighborhood is the largest residential area on campus and offers two different types of living - flats, with four rooms and two and a half bathrooms for eight residents, and apartments, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, dining room and kitchen for four residents. Danieley Center is pretty far from main campus, but not to fear! If you don't have a car or don't feel like walking, a BioBus runs continually through the complex every 10 or 15 minutes. And don't forgot about Daniel Commons! The building includes a gym, living room, convenience store with a sandwich station and the Area office. And when the weather gets a little warmer, sitting by the lake is a great way to relax and blow off steam after a crazy week. The complex is named in honor of President Emeritus James Earl Danieley.
The Colonnades --With three brand-new buildings and two relatively young ones, the Colonnades is often referred to as the "five star hotel" of campus. The Colonnades, adjacent to Koury Business Center and the Colonnades dining hall, houses many of Elon's learning communities, many of which moved from other areas of campus for this semester, and features many types of housing. In the newer Colonnades, you'll find single rooms with washers and dryers, double rooms, and single-suites with two single rooms, a common room complete with couch and TV stand and a kitchenette-like counter with cabinet space. The older Colonnades house singles and single pods, which is a group of several singles with private bathrooms connected by a common area. Every floor in each building has its own laundry and common area complete with kitchen.
[/tab] [tab title="The Elon University Bucket List"]The Elon University Bucket List
Survival Bingo --- Midnight Meals is the perfect way to procrastinate on your homework at the end of your week. And you have a good excuse—it's an Elon tradition. So take a chance to get free food Thursdays at 11 p.m. If you really like free stuff than Survivial Bingo is the way to go because by simply playing a game you get free stuff.
Get Lost in Downtown Burlington --- You have probably been welcomed to the Elon "bubble" a million times, but remember there is a lot around this campus that you should experience. Without traveling too far you can find a fun downtown area and local restaurants. There are so many places to explore that are often overlooked by students. So take time to go out to Burlington and eat at Zach's Hotdogs. You won't regret it.
Luminaries --- It can be hard to be away from home during the holidays, but luckily Elon provides its own tradition. There is really nothing to dislike about this event. There is free hot chocolate, apple cider, Santa Claus, people singing holiday carols, a train ride around campus and lights everywhere. Elon is gorgeous, yes. But Elon is even more gorgeous under the glow of holiday lights.
Go to President Leo Lambert's House for Christmas --- How many schools invite you to the president's house for the holidays Very few. Take this opportunity. And I am pretty sure your parents will be impressed with the picture you have with the school president. They will of course take the opportunity to brag about their child.
Volunteer Work --- You have four years to do whatever you want. But honestly, in these four year you should also realize that is about a lot more than you. As an Elon student, you become part of a community. And it is important that you truly invest yourself in the community. There are so many great opportunites to do service work. Take them.
Poster Sale --- This one is pretty easy to meet. It is the beginning of the year and you realize how empty your walls are. This problem is easy. During the first weeks of school there will be several signs that appear around campus directing you to Moseley for the poser sale. Go and do whatever you can to liven up your walls.
Picnic by Lake Mary Nell --- This campus is gorgeous, and right now I am sure you are aware of this. If you are like most students then this is probably even a reason that you came to Elon. However, at some point you will start to take it for granted. So every once in a while do something like stop at the local farmers market to grab some food and then head over to the lake. Just be careful of the birds. Not all of them are too nice.
SUB Movie Run --- Elon is expensive. However, there are a few deals to be found. One of these deals happens on Fridays once a month. Get really cheap movie tickets just by taking advantage of this Student Union Board event.
Cram Jam --- Want to know a secret? Studying probably becomes even harder once you are a college student. Welcome to your high school years with your best friends at your side 24/7 and even more stress, So take a chance to reduce stress and hang out with your friends (since you are going to anyways). Attend a Play --- At some point in your life you will pay large sums of money to go to a play, but for these four years you can attend several plays a year for free. There are so many talented students and a great program.
Cook-Out Run --- For those of you that are not from the South Cook-Out is a cheap, fast food place that is open late. It is the perfect way to end nights out. And one of the best parts? You can get something like a corn dog for a side dish. Yes, a corn dog can be counted as a side dish. Get ready for some cheap feasts.
Ice Cream from Smitty's --- There are so many flavors of ice cream and they are all delicious. Want something different? Try oatmeal ice cream. And if you are low on money, that is okay. Occasionally Smitty's comes to campus and gives out free ice cream. Make sure you don't miss that day.
Talk to Dr. Danieley --- Dr. Danieley is a former President of Elon. He has seen Elon go through a lot of changes and most importantly he is passionate about this school. Yes, you will learn a lot from talking to him, but you will also get to hear someone talking about something they deeply care about. That is something worth doing.
Make the most of Tuesday/Thursday Mornings --- Elon is a community. You will hear this so much during orientation week that you probably stop believing it. But once you start to experience all of the Elon traditions you will realize that this truly is a community. One of the greatest ways to experience it is by attending College Coffee on Tuesday mornings and College Chapel on Thursdays.
Participate in Elonthon --- 24 hours of dancing can be daunting. For some of you this may sound like the perfect way to spend a night and for others it may seem like a nightmare. Well for the former people, sign up and dance! For the latter, there are shorter shifts that you can take. It is a great way to work out, have fun and join many Elon students to support one cause.
Attend the North Carolina State Fair --- Raleigh is only an hour away and for two weekends you can enjoy rides, play games, eat fried everything and see all kinds of livestock. Some people might go because they are adrenaline junkies, others just want to see all of the southern stereotypes they imagined before moving down south. Either way the price of tickets are worth it.
Find Your Regular Acorn Order --- It is basically impossible to be an Elon student without having a favorite order at Acorn. So make sure to take the time to really get to know the workers at Acorn and figure out exactly what you want to eat on a regular basis. Each day has a special, including grilled cheese and tomato soup on Friday, so remember to look at those because you will eventually get tired of your regular order.
Stargaze on the Intramural Fields --- Every once in a while you need to get away from the normal routine of Elon. You really do not have to go that far to accomplish this. So take a blanket out to the fields and just lay down and gaze at the stars. Take a student who is in an astronomy class to learn the constellations. It is an easy way to relax.
Spend an All Nighter in Club Belk --- Yes, college is fun. But college is also work. So you will have all nighters. The library does not just have to be a place of torture though, it can also be a place where you go to socialize. Hence the nickname, club belk.
[/tab] [tab title="What is that noise?"]What is that noise?
If you are awoken in the middle of the night or early in the morning and the foreign noise turns out not to be your brand-new, obnoxiously loud alarm clock, welcome to Elon. We have trains that go by on a daily basis--sometimes on schedule, but often they just come when they feel like it. The Elon Commitment also calls for many new buildings and campus improvements, which means it usually feels like on-campus construction is round the clock. So if you hear loud noises and your dorm starts shaking, don't worry; thousands of students before you have survived similar conditions. And just a quick tip about fire alarms--it doesn't matter if they catch you studying, cooking, showering or sleeping, heading outside for fire alarms is one big come-as-you-are party.
[/tab] [tab title="Who will give me money?"]Who will give me money?
Even if you don't have to worry about month-to-month rent and utilities, college life can get expensive. So how can you make ends meet Here are a few tips.
Working on campus --- There are a number of places on campus that hire student workers and the student minimum wage is now $9 an hour. Aside from the obvious locations like Belk Library and Campus Recreation, there are a number of office assistant and teaching assistant positions. Campus Rec has a job fair in the fall, so keep an eye on E-net for the time and date and ask your professors if they've heard of any open positions. Remember that the best time to get hired is usually at the end of the semester or the very beginning of the new term, when positions are opened by students graduating and studying abroad. Residence Life also hires new resident assistants for the following semester mid-fall and the positions are open to freshmen who have lived a full semester on campus, so ask your RA and watch for the application on their website.
Institutional scholarships --- Most departments have awards and scholarships for faculty-nominated students, so ask your adviser about any opportunities that may pertain to you. Many of these scholarships do not have application processes but still indicate financial need as a qualifier, so let your adviser know if you need tuition assistance so he or she can keep this in mind. Two of the most well-known sources of money are the Lumen scholarship and Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE). Lumen is a $15,000 research grant you can apply for in your sophomore year and up to $10,000 of the awarded money can be put toward tuition. SURE allows students to stay in on-campus housing for a summer to do research with a faculty member and comes with a stipend of at least $4,000.
Financial aid --- By filling out the FAFSA every year regardless of whether or not you think your family qualifies for financial assistance, you give Elon the opportunity to evaluate your eligibility for institutional grants for tuition assistance.
[/tab] [tab title="How will I know what's up?"]How will I know what's up?
There is always something happening on campus and there are many ways to stay informed. At the beginning of every semester, you'll get a calendar in your campus box with all of the cultural events planned for the semester, but there's so much more happening on campus than just what's on that calendar. Check the calendar on E-net frequently but also pay attention to what students will write in the corners of the whiteboards in classrooms. You can get free copies of the New York Times, USA Today and The Burlington Times-News during the school week in the entry hall in McEwen School of Communications as well as in Moseley Center.
Looking to stay on top of the more local or campus-specific news? Don't forget to check out The Pendulum, out in print every Wednesday and updated online daily, Phoenix 14 News, broadcast every Monday and WSOE 89.3. [/tab] [tab title="What if I get hungry?"]What if I get hungry?
Elon introduced an entirely new meal plan system for students this year, as well as many changes to the hours and available food options on campus. All-Access plans, for freshmen and sophomores, can be used for unlimited visits to the three all-you-can-eat facilities, Colonnades, McEwen and Harden, on campus - you also have the option of selecting an additional 7 or 14 meals per week plan. Block meal plans, for juniors and seniors, allow for 200 or 300 block meal plans that can be used at all-you-can-eat facilities or exchanged for a combo meal.
So you have a meal plan. Now what?
Harden, McEwen and Colonnades are all-you-can-eat dining halls with salad bars and multiple meal options on a daily basis. Enjoy all you want for one meal swipe or, with an All-Access plan, as often as you'd like!
Other options include Octagon, Acorn Coffee Shop and 1889 , which provides a fancier atmosphere with waiters. Meals range between one and three meal swipes.
Looking for something off-campus?
Don't forget about the local offerings from the Town of Elon! The Root Trackside opened earlier this summer with sandwiches, salads and soups all for around $10. Town Table, also in downtown Elon, has pizzas, salads and burgers also for around $10. [/tab] [tab title="What if I need a new challenge?"]What if I need a new challenge?
The university provides many opportunities for extracurricular research and trips to supplement your coursework.
Are you wary of waking up on the same campus every single morning for the next four years? Consider Elon's nationally-recognized Study Abroad program which offers numerous options for trips both during the semester or over Winter Term. Interested in the aborgines of Australia There's a program for that. Dreamt of sipping a latte under the Eiffel TowerÂ? There's a program for that. Want to know more? Check out the Study Abroad page from Elon.
Research is another major component encouraged by the university. Numerous programs are available including: Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, Student Undergraduate Research Forum and Lumen, which provides select students with grants to conduct research over the course of their last two years at Elon. Find a topic you are deeply passionate about and interested in, find a professor for a mentor and delve in!
[/tab] [tab title="Is Smith Jackson a real person?"]Is Smith Jackson a real person?
Despite any rumors you may have heard, Smith Jackson is, in fact, a living, breathing person. Though most students have never met the famed Vice President and Dean of Student Life, many of those who do brag about it, as he is indeed a campus celebrity. Jackson is the man who sends us emails when there's trouble on campus we need to know about and he's also the subject of the campus hit "Ode to Smith Jackson," created in 2010 by Project Halcyon.[/tab] [/tabs]