Rhino Speak

rhinos

The following words and phrases have—or will—become an essential day-to-day part of your children's vernacular at Taft.

Please use this page as a reference guide so that you may better communicate with your children during their time at Taft.

 

The Jig
[jig] Formally named The Donald A. Ocarson Jigger Shop, it is Taft's short order snack bar. In context: "I'm heading to the Jig for a cheese-bagel before D-block."
Scene
[seen] The 30-minute window of time between the end of study hall and dormitory check-in (Upper Mids / Seniors) 9:45 p.m. - 10:15 p.m.. Alt. The 30 minute window of time before study hall in the evening (Lower Mids / Mids) 7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Regarded by many as the most social half hour of any given Taft day.
Walk-back
[wok bak] In the waning minutes of Scene (ref. above), a public gesture in which a couple may outwardly acknowledge their dating (or soon to be dating) status to the greater Taft social community, through an escorted walk to a respective dormitory.
Twig
[twig] A lacrosse stick. Alt. Wand - synonymous.
Rhino Cup
[rye-no kup] Taft's intramural hockey league. As an option for winter mandatory exercise, students may elect to participate in Rhino Cup, no matter their hockey abilities or experience. Ranging in skill from the 'Ringers' (those who choose not to play Varsity or JV, though may be capable) to the 'Tri-pods' (new skaters using their hockey stick as a third stabilizing appendage), Rhino Cup has a very diverse range of hockey talent. Annually, Rhino Cup holds a nighttime game attended by nearly the entire Taft community.
The Rock
[rok] Formally named the Upper School Girls Dormitory or USGD. In a reference to Alcatraz Prison, USGD is seen as impossible to escape from, and at times is referenced as self contained, self sufficient, or desolate.
Wu
[woo] Formally named The Lady Ivy Kwok Wu Science and Mathematics Center, or the science and math building. In Context: "It is POURING outside, so I am sprinting over to Wu for class in 5 minutes."
Bro-out
[broe owt] To interact with one or more other people as friends, in an informal fashion. Actual faculty case: "A student once said to me after an extra-help session in my apartment, 'Yo Routhier, I thought we were gonna stay and bro-out.'"
PSBL
[Pea Ess Bee El] The Pre-Study Ball League (Softball). A spring tradition at Taft in which students and faculty form competitive softball teams for daily intramural competition to be held in the mid-evening prior to study hall. The faculty team in the 2008 season was known as the 'Triple Threats' referencing Taft's model of teacher, coach, and resident faculty.
Feeds
[feeds] A faculty hosted gathering involving great quantities of food. Feeds can be dorm sponsored, advisor sponsored, class sponsored, etc. Ex: "My advisor is hosting a Taco Bell feed tonight. Sweet."
 
 

Artwork by Bridget Starr Taylor '77

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