You’re new to UBC. You’ve spent hours perfecting those applications, applying for those transfers, and doing your best to make it in to a #Top40 acclaimed academic institution. Good on you for being here!
Give yourself a pat on the back. Everything is good and dandy and swell, save for one tiny problem–what the hell is everyone even saying? With all the abbreviations and hip slang floating around the thunderbird vernacular, it can be difficult to sort out everything that’s going on. Well, we’re here to help!
IKB
This one is pretty confusing, but it stands for Igma Kappa Babes. You may think people are referencing Irving K. Barber library, but they’re actually talking about everyone’s favourite Master of Library and Information Studies sorority, known for generously opening their home and arms to struggling students, providing silent study spaces and a robust array of resources, including, shockingly, books.
The Gal
Commonly confused with the restaurant on the top floor of the Nest, the Gal is actually one of the famous ghosts who haunts UBC’s first-year residences. Known for stealing your one litre bottles of Okanagan Cider and famously summoned by the distinct sound of cracking open a fresh two-six of Pink Whitney, this ghost is generally harmless but gets upset when you don’t listen to your RAs.
SSC and CWL
These two are difficult as well. But don’t worry — I am a benevolent soul and am here to help.
SSC stands for Seriously, Subterranean passages are Cool. It’s a reference to everyone’s favourite set of underground passageways which students typically use to get around campus during the winter months. Not to be confused with the secret UBC steam tunnels because CWL — Caution, Woah there trespassing is iLlegal.
The AMS
A little bit nonsensical, this one weirdly stands for “A bunch of power-hungry kids who were on student council in high school and when, oddly enough, nobody wanted to eat lunch with theM in first year when all they wanted to talk about was how they single-handedly created world peace and should be named president of the universe, decided to search for some sort of authoritative position to fill the gaping hole in their liveS”
Taco Tuesday
This is not a promotion that runs at Rain-or-Shine ice cream every Tuesday. Rather, on Taco Tuesday every single UBC food outlet is legally obligated to serve their food in taco form. Do with this information what you will.