The Story
Only at William and Mary
William and Mary truly is unlike any other college. The school itself is over 300 years old with history, making it the second oldest college in the United States. While the history and traditions of the college are all fine and wonderful, what makes this place truly special is the special assortment of people that make up the student body. The term “lovably awkward” gets thrown around a lot, but I prefer the term “unique.” The culture developed by these people engulfs the campus and steals the hearts of prospective students.
Only at William and Mary would “the walk of shame” mean getting kicked out of the library at 2 a.m. and having to walk back to the dorms. Often backpacks are heavy with books and arms are full of empty coffee mugs. The walk of shame is a surprisingly social event, with students ranting and sympathizing over the work still to be done in the wee hours of the night.
Only at William and Mary would terms like “swemming” and “twamp” come into existence. For those who don’t know, swemming means spending an extended period of time at the Earl Gregg Swem library, and twamp stands for “typical William and Mary person” (think slightly nerdy and awkward in a completely lovable way). Not only do these terms exist, but the term has found its way into the everyday vocabulary of the student population.
Only at William and Mary would Wawa become a late night hot spot. I have seen lines stretching all the way to the back of the store near the ice cream at 2 a.m. Maybe this could be a stop on the “walk of shame?”
Only at William and Mary would a deli serve as a bar. I found this one out the hard way when I wanted a sandwich late at night. Personally, I think “deli” sounds classier than “bar,” but that might just be me.
Only at William and Mary would buttons be cool. Students are issued the introductory button from the start with “Class of ____,” and from then on, they just seem to pile up. In my one semester at William and Mary, I’ve managed to accumulate a “Class of 2012” button, a “Beat the Dukes” button, and a “Welcome Home” button. The best part is that I can proudly display them all without feeling out of place or like an overly fanatic twamp.
Only at William and Mary would eight hours of sleep be considered abnormal. Often, there are just as many students walking around with overstuffed backpacks at 2 a.m. as there are at 2 p.m. This would also explain the incredible amount of students walking around with the extra-large Wawa coffee mugs at any hour of the day.
Only at William and Mary would jumping into the Crim Dell be considered a completely normal thing to do. Not only is this small body of water green instead of the normal clear or blue, but it also has the unique ability to float most anything thrown on top of it. This makes swimming through it all the more impressive, but also all the more gross.
Only at William and Mary would the library be a legitimate social hangout. People will meet up at the library and bond over essays and readings. Even if you go to the library alone, you’re bound to see someone you know also planning an intense study session.
Only at William and Mary would an “A” be harder to come by than a winning lottery ticket. The school has driven students to come up with phrases such as “Where your best hasn’t been good enough since 1693.” The professors here expect the absolute best from their students, and will settle for nothing less.
Only at William and Mary would students celebrate the library being opened for 24 hours. The big switch will come around finals time, and I have already overheard plans of 48-hour campouts and “Swem marathons” to see who can stay at Swem the longest.
Now if you have found yourself laughing and somehow relating to all of these, consider yourself a true William and Mary kid. This is no small accomplishment, as this school truly does produce some of the most hardworking, smartest and most lovable individuals of any school in the United States. In short, William and Mary is unique, and that is what makes it so darn lovable.
Alyson Gaiser is a staff columnist for The DSJ. Her views do not necessarily represent those of the entire staff.