A Sewanee Glossary

Abbo's Alley

the Abbott Cotten Martin Ravine Garden; the wooded path following the ravine behind the gym, running roughly parallel to University Avenue between Texas and South Carolina Avenue, thence toward North Carolina Avenue and eventually to University Avenue south of Thompson Union; so named for Abbott Martin, former professor of English, who labored for years with Sewanee undergraduates to construct the trails and to transplant all the flowering shrubs, wildflowers, and plants which would bloom in Sewanee's latitude into the ravine area.

Academy

the old military preparatory school maintained by the University on Tennessee Avenue until 1981; now a part of the St. Andrew's-Sewanee School.

All Saints'

the University Chapel; ground was broken in 1904; the cornerstone laid in 1905.

Angel

also, Sewanee Angel, "getting your angel;" referring to the practice of touching the roof of the vehicle you are riding in as you leave the gates of the Domain; angels are "put up" [by touching the roof again] when you return to the Domain.

Assembly, The

the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly situated in the middle of Monteagle; an interdenominational center, one of the few remaining of the Chautauqua system; a place of lectures, concerts, and summer homes often rented by Sewanee parents during Parents' Weekend, Homecoming, and Graduation.

Ayres Center

the multi-cultural center named in honor of former Vice-Chancellor and benefactor Robert M. Ayres, Jr.; located in the old Independent House behind Gailor Hall diagonally across the intersection from the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house.

Bairnwick

the former Myers house on Mississippi Avenue famous as a community gathering place; given to the University by the children of Professor and Mrs. George B. Myers of the School of Theology; once included a private school; now expanded to include the Mary Susan Cushman meeting-social room and referred to as the Women's Center.

the Bishop's Common; the student union building on Georgia Avenue; so called in honor of Bishop Frank A. Juhan, hence written with the singular possessive.

British Studies

a six week summer academic program at St. John's College, Oxford University, England. An extra-ordinarily popular program which allows Sewanee students, along with students from Rhodes, Vanderbilt, and other schools in our consortium, to earn six hours of credit while studying a specific periods in England's cultural development; one of numerous overseas programs in the University.

Burple, The

sometime published and outrageous spoof of the student newspaper, The Purple, published on April Fools Day in years past.

Caldwell's

a student-conceived venture to provide a coffee shop alternative to the Pub; located in the south end of the former grocery part of the Supply Store.

Cap and Gown

the university yearbook; founded 1891.

Castle, The

not a castle but a pre-World War I large stone inn-restaurant overlooking Lost Cove. Operated by Miss Clara. Now a private residence.

Chittys, The

Arthur Ben and Elizabeth Nichinson--"Betty Nick"; the team of University historiographers who know all that is worth knowing about the history of Sewanee, the University, Sewanee people, alums and their cousins by the dozens; purveyors of awesomely encyclopedic, detailed and painstakingly accurate information about the history of the University; authors of many publications about the University and regular contributors to publications like the Siren and Messenger .

Clara, Miss

Clara Shoemate; real, but now mythical proprietress of Sewanee restaurants who served the best food ever prepared in a Sewanee restaurant [in private homes, the accolade must go to Miss Dora Colmore's catering for Mrs. Alex Guerry or to Medora Hodgson]; the standard by which all subsequent food service has been measured.

College, The

the undergraduate division of the University; not identical with the term "University" which also includes the School of Theology.

Colloquium, Mediaeval Colloquium

the annual meeting in Sewanee of major Medieval scholars to read and discuss scholarly papers on the Medieval Period; the colloquium publishes a series of colloquium papers and is administered by the Medieval Studies faculty.

Comped

post-delirious, transcendent, beatific, euphoric state of Seniors in April and May after they have finished their comprehensive examinations; usually indicated by large white letters "COMPED SENIOR" written across car windows and by festoons of purple and white balloons attached to car antennae; a comped Senior may wear the Gown, no matter what the previous average..

Comps

Comprehensive Examinations given usually in the Spring to all senior majors by their departments; "to comp"--to take one's comprehensive examinations; "comping"--in the process of taking comps: "I can't go out this week, I'm comping."

Cove

a geologic form; a narrow, steep valley-like incision into the plateau; the small valleys seen from the bluff views of the Domain.

Covite

a derogatory and impolite reference to inhabitants of the coves of the plateau; the term is unacceptable among ladies and gentlemen; sometimes applied to all local, non-University people; sometimes used as a synonym for "redneck" or "sagers".

Cowan Tunnel

built in 1848-1850, then the longest railroad tunnel in the world; lies under the Domain and allowed passage of the railroad from Nashvllle to Chattanooga; the tunnel begins about two miles south of Cowan and exits the mountain at Tantalon on the Chattanooga side.

Crosby, Clarita Frances

donor of largest bequest in University history; $6 million in 1982; portrait in the Regents' Room.

Cross, The

the war memorial cross originally erected on the west bluff of the Domain in honor of those Sewanee soldiers who served in the nation's wars; in the 1980's its tribute was extended to include all of Franklin County.

Crossing

the intersection of the main interior lines of the Chapel; the ritual of conferral of the St. Luke's Cross to seniors in the School of Theology.

Dairy, The

the old dairy bottling site on the farm; now part of the Art Department studio space.

DOCC

Disciples of Christ in Community; an extension program of the School of Theology.

Domain, The

the nearly 10,000 acre woodland tract owned by the University; the land of the Domain gives the university one of the largest "campuses" in the nation; total circumference, twenty-three miles.

Down

the up stairs on the corner of Walsh; see `up'.

Earthie

a natural resources major.

Ecce Quam Bonum

"Behold How Good!", the short form of the official university Latin motto taken from Psalm 133: 1: "Ecce Quam Bonum Et Quam Iucundum Habitare Fratres In Unum." [Behold How Good and Joyful Thing it is for Brethren to Dwell Together in Unity.]

EFM

Education For Ministry; the School of Theology extension education program, successor to the old Theological Education by Extension program.

EQB

acronym of the short form of the university motto; also the name of the sometime faculty club which holds fortnightly meetings to hear and discuss non-specialist intellectual presentations or "leads." Also the name of the building between the Supply Store and Gailor where the club meets; oldest organization on the Mountain other than the University.

Farm, The

site of the old farming and dairy operation beyond the football and athletic practice fields; now used as pasturage for the Equestrian Center; also used as limited private-lease pasturage.

Farmer Pond

First of the 17 modern Sewanee lakes; named for benefactor Edward Disney Farmer; a delightful small pond, and a secret place among Sewanee birders; its bottom is 500 feet higher than the Empire State Building.

Field Trip

a lab conducted out of doors; a trip taken by a science or other class to visit a place away from the classroom.

Fiery Gizzard

so named because of the old practice of smelting iron ore there because of the nearby seams of coal; a steep, laurel covered ravine with a clear stream and a spectacular but small waterfall; favorite summer destination of generations of Sewanee hikers; located about two miles from Tracy City beyond Monteagle.

Fog, Sewanee

actually clouds when seen from the valley, but called fog locally; typical winter atmospheric condition of the Domain; sometimes also mistakenly used to refer to the mindset of certain residents and students.

Forestry Cabin

sometime gathering, party, and picnic place of students located on the bluff a couple of miles beyond the farm; operated by the Forestry Club.

Fowler Center

short name for the Robert Fowler Sport and Fitness Center; the newly renovated gym and recreation center supported by a generous gift from former regent Robert Fowler.

Futility District

vandalization of the sign on the water tower: Sewanee (F) Utility District to which was added beneath, Sperm Bank.

Garth

the enclosed yard area between Walsh-Ellett, Guerry, and Convocation Halls.

Gates, The

a reference to the stone gates where Highway 64 enters and exits the Domain; the point at which Sewanee Angels are pulled down or put back up.

Golf Shop

the former restaurant/clubhouse at the Sewanee Golf Course; once a popular gathering place for lunch; named for Ralph P. Black, a sub on the team of `99.

Gown

n. the black bachelors gown worn by faculty and by members of the Order of Gownsmen; v. to gown, to place the gown on a fellow student during Induction of Gownsmen at Convocation.

Grain

not as in amber waves; a potent alcoholic drink often prepared on Party Weekends; usually mixed with fruit juices or Kool-Aid and prepared in large trash cans.

Granolas

synonymous with earthie, q.v.

Headless Gownsman

one of many popular Sewanee ghosts; last seen in 1988 marching in procession for Founders' Day Convocation.

Highlanders

a social club distinguished by Scots regalia and dress; usually march in as a group at football games.

Hospitality Shop

A small local restaurant located between the Delta House and the KA house on University Avenue; operated on Tuesdays and Thursdays by volunteers of the Emerald Hodgson Hospital Auxiliary. Proceeds aid in the operation of the hospital. The food is always excellent.

Independent House

a "fraternity" house for non-fraternity men; created by fraternity alumni for non-fraternity men to improve the independent men's social opportunities; once a coffee house, then the Outside Inn, and then an adjunct of the Theatre Department.

Inn, The

the Sewanee Inn; a combined restaurant-motel facility located near the golf course across from the hospital; has undergone several transformations of structure and purpose in the last two decades; currently being refurbished as an extension of Rebel's Rest.

Island Ecology Program

an interdisciplinary summer science program on St. Catherine's Island off the Georgia coast; sponsored by the University in cooperation with the St. Catherine's Island Foundation and the New York Zoological Society.

Keg

typical container for bulk beer at social events; now extinct.

Lab

the practical part of a science course usually conducted in the afternoon apart from the lecture portion; also the place where the practical instruction takes place.

Lake Cheston

a large lake off the farm road behind the dairy. A haunt for sunbathers, picnickers, swimmers, frisbee fanatics, fishermen, and often used as a stopover pond by migrating geese and ducks; site of the annual 4th of July fireworks display put on by the Sewanee community and the Sewanee Fire Department; named for a retired professor of Forestry, Charles Cheston, who built it and sixteen other lakes on the Domain.

Lead

as in "EQB Lead"; a lecture at the EQB club; the original stipulation was that leads must be outside one's academic specialty; often followed by stinging rebuttals by someone who had read the lead paper in advance.

Lemon Fair

an old general store in the village now converted to a jewelry, dress, and gift shop located across from the bank.

Lesson and Carols

popular name of the Festival of Lessons and Carols held in All Saints' Chapel the first Saturday and Sunday of December; now in its fourth decade, the Festival has been featured on television and in magazines and is widely popular across the South; the three services each more than 1200 people.

Lost Cove

a small extension of Crow Creek Valley to the south side of the Domain; sometimes taken as an image of remoteness as in Walker Percy's novel, Love in the Ruins.; said to have contained a birch grove sacred to Indians.

Louisiana Circle

the five-acre wooded tract across University Avenue from the Hospitality Shop; designed and laid out as a circle, the remains of which can be seen in the yard of the Dorthea Daniel's house near the Hospitality Shop; site of the original cornerstone of the University, now marked by a stone plaque in the ground along the wooded path through the area; it was here that the invading Federal army blew up the cornerstone and carried off the fragments as souvenirs. Tradition alleges that the site has been kept forever free of building in memory of that event.

Mac

short form Macintosh; "do it on the Mac"= compose a document using the Macintosh word processor; Macs are the common faculty and student computers connected over a campus network.

Mace

the ornate, emblematic baton carried by the President of the Order of Gownsmen in academic processions just ahead of the Vice-Chancellor; it is kept in a vault and rests in a special cradle on the organ console during the convocation service.

Market, The

the newest of the convenience stores in the village; located at the intersection of University Avenue and the Highway 64 By-pass.

Messenger, The

short name of the current Sewanee newspaper, Sewanee Mountain Messenger.

Morgan's Steep

popular bluff site near the Johannes Oertel house; frequent gathering place to watch sunsets; sometimes mistakenly identified as the place where a heroic Confederate messenger rode his horse off the cliff to escape pursuing Yankees. [The house at the site was actually built by Vice-Chancellor Hodgson, but Mrs. Hodgson refused to live in it, saying that it was too remote and that she would meet more people in the cemetery than out there.]

Mountain Goat

the name of the old railroad train that made the journey from Cowan to Sewanee and points beyond Sewanee; in the days before good roads on the mountain, students would come by train to Cowan and then ride the Mountain Goat to the Village; also once the name of the undergraduate literary journal.

Mountain Journal, The

the current annual literary magazine, publishing student and faculty poems, short stories, and essays; a not quite direct successor to the older Mountain Goat.

Mountain, The

an older way of referring to the Domain and to the life of the University; new comers are often welcomed to "The Mountain." [The Mountain is not technically a mountain but a plateau, part of the extensive Cumberland Plateau system of highlands west of the Cumberland Mountains.] Also now a reference to the steep highway between the Domain and Cowan, as in "There's a wreck on the mountain."

Nanny-goat Park

corruption of the name Manigault Park; the large lawn area in front of St. Luke's Hall.

Natural Bridge

a small rock arch about three miles from Sewanee off the Sherwood road.

Night Study

a place, not a process; that portion of duPont Library open through the night for student study.

short for Order of Gownsmen; as in "I have to go to an OG meeting."

Old Union, The

a reference to the old student union located in Thompson Union which is now the University Relations Office; Thompson Union contained the SPO, a snack bar, the theatre, and the offices of student government.

Otey

short name of Otey Memorial Parish which is the new name of St. Paul's On The Mountain Episcopal Church; named in honor of Bishop James H. Otey, first bishop of Tennessee and first Chancellor of the University; the village church.

Outside Inn

the old Independent House on Mitchell avenue in one of its incarnations as an off-beat, theatrical/coffee house space.

Party Weekend

now revisionistically called "Festival Weekends;" usually held in the fall, winter, and spring; a time of general festivity and partying around the campus usually lasting from Thursday to Sunday afternoon.

Pavilion, The

the large wooden shelter erected on the southwest side of Lake Cheston and a favorite outdoor gathering place; equipped with several picnic tables sheltered by a roof constructed from beams and timbers once used in the temporary (1903-1962) roof over All Saints' Chapel nave.

Performing Arts Series

Each year Sewanee enjoys nine performances featuring internationally known musicians, dancers, and theatre troupes.

Perimeter Trail

the newest of Sewanee's hiking paths; a path that begins on Highway 64--the Cowan Road--and follows the general line of the bluff around the Domain.

Pig, The

the Piggly-Wiggly grocery store in Monteagle; as in "I've got to run to the Pig."

Pledge

1. n. a new member of a fraternity or sorority; v. to pledge, to agree to accept a bid to join a fraternity or sorority; 2. n. the Honor Code pledge that one's work is one's own; v. to pledge, to write the word "Pledge" on a test or paper and sign one's name under it.

Pool, The

as in Secretarial Pool; now the Office of Print Services. Faculty sometimes still say, "I'll have to get this document run off in the pool."

Proctor

a student selected to be responsible for a dormitory; proctors assist the deans of students in many aspects of student life; they also assist in ushering at special services and convocations in the chapel.

Provost

the chief administrative officer for day-to-day affairs in the University

Pub

the eatery-tavern-gathering place on the bottom floor of the BC.

Purple Masque

the University drama group which presents six major productions each year; most students who participate are not theatre majors.

Purple

the Sewanee Purple; the undergraduate newspaper.

Purple Sewanee

an older compendium of Sewanee lore and traditions originally entitled "Sewanee" [1932] and re-published under this title in 1961.

Quad

the Quadrangle; the yard area between the Chapel and Walsh-Ellett Hall; "uptown" Sewanee.

raisin'

not the dried grape; as in the expression, "What are you doing this weekend?" Answer, "Raisin'" [=raising hell=to party].

Rebel's Rest

the former Fairbanks house across the street from Convocation Hall; a log cabin and perhaps the oldest surviving wood structure in Sewanee; now used as a university guest house.

Reserve, The

the 1,000 acre tract recognized by Tennessee law as set aside for special academic and residential usage by the University; the central, settled portion of the Domain.

Ribbon Society

social clubs which hold formal parties and distinguish themselves by the wearing of a colored ribbon--red, pink, white, green, or black. The original ribbon societies date back at least to the early 1880's.

Road Trip

getting off the mountain, leaving Sewanee; going to a concert; going anywhere. As a verb, to "road trip" someone means to send them away--as in pledges road tripping their pledge master.

Rock City

not Sewanee. Mistaken appellation of the University attributed to a tourist who inquired from his car of former Vice-Chancellor McCrady who was crossing University Avenue to his office, "Say, buddy, is this Rock City?" The Vice-Chancellor's reply is not recorded.

SAS

the St. Andrew's-Sewanee School which resulted from the merger of the St. Andrew's School and the Sewanee Academy.

SMA

the former Sewanee Military Academy, sometimes pronounced "Essy Mae"; a military preparatory school famous for its uniformed cadets who marched down Tennessee Avenue to All Saints' Chapel; the SMA campus now houses the School of Theology in Hamilton Hall and undergraduate dormitories in Quintard and Gorgas Halls; the military aspect was dropped and the name changed to Sewanee Academy and then merged with St. Andrew's School in 1981.

Seminar

a small, upper-level usually afternoon class; often with fewer than 10 students.

SEMS

the volunteer, university supported Sewanee Emergency Medical Service which operates an ambulance and a corps of Emergency Medical Technicians for the larger Sewanee community.

Sewanee Dogs

traditional birthright, four-legged inhabitants of the Quad, classrooms, offices, and the space under the one traffic light.

Sewanee International

the Sewanee airport.

Sewanee Metro

playful designation of the police department sometimes used by police dispatchers, as in "Sewanee Metro to all units..." Usually heard only on the late shifts.

Sewanee Review

the prestigious and internationally acclaimed literary journal published by the University; said to be the oldest literary quarterly in continuous publication in the United States. Now under the editorship of George Core.

Sewanee Theological Review

the new journal of theology which succeeds the old St. Luke's Journal of Theology.

Sewanee

the generic and place name for the University and its surrounding community; perhaps a derivation of the Amerindian form "Shawnee," believed by some to mean "south" or to refer to the southern group of Shawnees who lived to the south of those living further to the north in Ohio.

SFD

the Sewanee Fire Department which now includes both the old student volunteer fire department and the community fire department.

Shenanigans

an old general store on the corner in the village, now converted to a sandwich shop.

Shop, The

the workshop and maintenance building of Physical Plant Services located on the east end of Georgia Avenue.

Siren

also the old town newspaper, the Sewanee Siren, published in mimeograph format for years; succeeded by the Sewanee Mountain Messenger.

Siren

the old fire siren that was used to signal firemen to gather at the firestation.

Skip's

popular undergraduate lunch spot in Winchester; famous among generations of undergraduates for its chili.

Soup Store

popular name of the University Supply Store; still sometimes used by older faculty and Sewanee residents to refer to the bookstore.

SPO

the Student Post Office; also a verb: to spo--mail someone something via the Student Post Office. "I'll spo it to you."

SPS

also now SES; Sewanee Public School now designated Sewanee Elementary School.

SSMC

Martha McCrory's custom Tennessee license plate; the initials of the Sewanee Summer Music Center, an internationally famous summer music program involving dozens of talented musicians and teachers; the Music Center offers weekly concerts during its six-week summer session.

St. Luke's

the old site of the School of Theology, now classroom and office space for the college; it also has a few student residents on the upper floor.

Stable, The

the Equestrian Center and surrounding buildings and rings located at the second bend in the farm road beyond the Dairy; home of the nationally famous Sewanee undergraduate Equestrian Team.

Stone Saw, The

near the Dairy and behind the old dairy barn, the site of the saw used for cutting the limestone blocks used in the construction of University buildings; remembered by many generations of Sewanee community men who worked there; about to be re-opened for the new construction projects now beginning.

Supply Store

the original University market once containing a bookstore, bank, pharmacy, coke fountain and grill, clothing, sundries, and grocery; now the college bookstore.

Thumping Dick Hollow

a ravine on the north slope of the Domain preserving near virgin timber; named for the hydraulic pump which once operated a small sawmill there; a Sewanee resident remembers a tulip poplar log cut there that was so great in diameter that it could not be sawn by the Thumping Dick mill or by the Sewanee sawmill.

Tiger Pantry

the remnant of the former grocery section of the Supply Store.

Tigers

nickname of Sewanee athletic teams, derived from the mascot emblem, a rampant Bengal tiger.

Truck Stop

one of several truck service-station restaurants in Monteagle frequented especially after midnight by students; particularly popular on party weekends and during exams; used in excited phrases such as, "Let's go to the truck stop!"

Tubby's

an infamous and now gone road house--honky tonk--between Sewanee and Monteagle.

Under The Sun At Sewanee

delightful guide to the views, trails, falls, caves, hikes, lakes, streams, and other natural wonders around Sewanee and this portion of middle Tennessee; originally the work largely of Waring McCrady and revised with the assistance of Doug Cameron and others.

University, The

the academic and corporate entity which includes both the College and the School of Theology; not synonymous with "The College."

the wrong direction on the turret stairs on the southwest corner of Walsh-Ellett Hall; to go up one uses the down stairs.

V.C.

the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University.

VCR

a play upon the initials of "video cassette recorder": used for Vice-Chancellor's Residence, or Clement Chen Hall

Valley, The Big

Chattanooga or Nashville, as in "I made a trip to the big valley." = "I went to Chattanooga."

Valley, The

the area off the mountain on the west side; the Cowan-Winchester-Tullahoma area; used in expressions such as, "I've got to go to the valley," or "Let's have lunch in the valley."

Village, The

properly, the town of Sewanee, the non-academic "downtown" portion of the Domain; the area around the bank, gas stations, and the Sewanee market.

Wellingtons

one of the undergraduate social clubs which wears a distinctive British regalia and sometimes marches in together to football games.

Women's Center

Bairnwick; the former Myers house.

Woodlands

Woodlands Apartments; a small housing area of duplexes and apartments mostly reserved for students at the School of Theology; also referred to as Disneyland because of the number of small children there; once called "Fertile Acres" because of the four babies born in the first week of occupancy in 1948.

Woodsie

a science major; someone who spends a lot of time in lab courses in Woods Laboratories.

WUTS

call letters of the University of the South student-operated radio station, 91.3 FM; sometimes also know as "Radio Free Sewanee."

Yea, Sewanee's Right!

the surviving last line of an old football cheer: "Rip `em up! Tear `em up! Leave `em in the lurch. Down with the heathen. Up with the Church.--Yea, Sewanee's Right!" The heathen may have been the Methodists of Vanderbilt which would date the cheer in the 1890's; the cheer was sometimes also used against Hampden-Sydney. Now used as an alternative motto and often shouted at the end of the Alma Mater. When used with the Alma Mater it is preceded by the transitional formula of an extended pause, the phrase "Hit it!" followed by "Yea, Sewanee's Right!"