The Freshman Dictionary: T - Z

thesis, n. The T word. Major senior pastime, required of every A.B. student and some B.S.E. students. Most are close to 100 pages. Often replaces social activities in the spring. See “carrel.”

third-floor Bicker, n. The practice of exchanging sexual favors for admission into a selective club. Named for the eating club officers’ third-floor bedrooms in which such encounters usually occur.

Tiger, n. 1. Princeton student or athlete. 2. Mascot dressed in tiger-skin suit who capers and cavorts at football games while trying to avoid attacks by the opponent’s band. 3. Campus humor magazine of erratic quality and publication schedule. 4. Striped predatory jungle cat.

Tilghman, Shirley, n. Princeton’s 19th and current president. She took her new post in fall 2001. First woman and first scientist to hold the University presidency. Of debatable popularity.

tool shed, n. 1. Nickname of the Wilson School because of the heavy preponderance of pre-meds and pre-Wall Street types who major there. 2. The Undergraduate Student Government. See “USG.” 3. Tower Club.

Triangle Club, n. Undergraduate theater group that produces an annual extravaganza of song, slapstick and dance. Famous for the drag kickline and alumnus Jimmy Stewart ‘32.

Twenty-One (21) Club, n. Secret drinking organization founded in 1881 and composed of 42 male juniors and seniors who consume 21 beers in 42 minutes at an annual contest.

UMCP, abbrev. University Medical Center at Princeton. Still known by its former abbreviation, PMC, because “getting PMCed” after a night of drinking sounds better than “getting UMCPed.” Used to be located off Nassau Street, but moved in the spring to Plainsboro. See “McCosh Health Center,” “boot.”

U-Store, n. Officially, the Princeton University Store. Location at 36 University Place sells convenience items and school supplies and is open until 4 a.m. Nassau Street location sells Princeton paraphernalia.

USG, abbrev. Undergraduate Student Government. Lots of resume builders who like to hear themselves talk. Makes a lot of decisions of questionable impact. Current president is Bruce Easop ‘13. See “tool shed.”

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Wilson School, abbrev. Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Formerly selective major for students interested in becoming investment bankers or consultants and learning the language of bureaucracy, as well as those rare folk who actually do want to save the world through government. (But most become I-bankers or consultants.) Usually referred to as “Woody Woo.” See “tool shed.”

Woody Woo fountain, n. Idyllic fountain and reflecting pool located in Scudder Plaza, north of Robertson Hall. Popular wading spot in the spring, especially after Wilson School theses are submitted. Its real name is the Fountain of Freedom, but no one calls it that.

’zees, abbrev. Advisees. The 20 or so freshmen frequently found under the wing of a residential college adviser. See “RCA.”