This article is classified "Real"
The University of Virginia is a State-supported University in the state of
Virginia (imagine that!). It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, who
counted it among his greatest achievements. It opened its doors to its
first class of students in 1825. Today it ranks among the best public
Universities in the United States.
Geography
----------
The University is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, in the Northwestern
portion of that state. Charlottesville is located in a valley, with
mountains surrounding so the University is known in many circles for its
scenic views. Charlottesville has an airport, with flights to various US
urban centers. There is also (most likely more useful for Hitchhikers) a
train station which is just east of the University proper. The main route
into Charlottesville by car is Route 29. AVOID THIS. It is a nightmare of
construction, ill conceived and terribly congested (I come from New Jersey -
I know traffic when I see it). If you must come into Charlottesville by
car, have patience with the drivers, they are just getting used to the
concept of traffic. The main benefit of traveling to Charlottesville by
car is the fact that Rt. 29 directly bisects the University, making UVa easy
to find (not that it is hard to find). UVa is the reason Charlottesville
exists.
As for the University itself, the center of UVa's life is an area directly
surrounding the Lawn and Range called Central Grounds. The Lawn, a.k.a.
Mr. Jefferson's Academic Village, is the heart of UVa. The Rotunda, a
scale replica of the Roman Pantheon, sits at the top of the Lawn, while
rows of student rooms and professors' residences (called Pavilions) proceed
down the Lawn. The Lawn is a beautiful sight on a good day. During a visit
to UVa in 1993, Mikhail Gorbachev stated, "You people live in paradise," at
the sight of the Lawn in the summer. The Range is a series of rooms and
buildings (called Hotels) outside the Lawn which house Graduate students.
The Lawn has many rooms which house 4th and 5th year students who have
contributed to the University. Living on the Lawn is considered a high
honor at UVa, even though the Lawn rooms have no inside sanitary plumbing.
(What do you want, they were initially constructed in 1824!)
Surrounding Central Grounds are various academic buildings, libraries, and
the student center, Newcomb Hall. Most of the residence areas at the
University are southwest of Central Grounds, beyond these buildings. Most
of the good bars are east of Central Grounds, on the Corner. Most of the
parties are north of Central Grounds, along the Fraternity row known as
Rugby Road.
You can get a map of UVa for reference at Miller Hall, (the admissions
office) west of the Range on McCormick Road.
Tradition
---------
Before going on, a mention MUST be made about tradition at the University of
Virginia. Tradition is one of the THE defining characteristics of UVa.
Students, faculty and administrators alike take it very seriously. The
beginning of an understanding of UVa tradition is language. People at UVa
speak their own language. For example, a UVa person would say:
Grounds, not Campus
Mr. Jefferson, not TJ or Tom
Fraternities, not Frats
First-years, not Freshmen (and it's been that way since 1825)
Professors are "Mister" Smith not "Doctor" Smith
The University not The U
UVa. not U.Va.
Yes, it is somewhat pedantic and elitist, but it is taken very seriously.
Professors have been known to get angry if called "Doctor". Thomas
Jefferson is spoken of with reverent familiarity, as if he had only just
gone off to Mount Vernon for a talk with George Washington and will return
to the University shortly.
One of the keys of this tradition is the University's Honor System. The
system is entirely student run and has only one sanction. If a person is
convicted of an honor offense, that student is asked to leave the
University. The Honor System was spawned after a student shot a professor
in the mid-1800s.
Enjoyment
----------
The students at UVa are known as Wahoos. A Wahoo is a fish that can drink
twice its weight. This description is rather fitting for the heavy-partying
student body at UVa. On any given Friday or Saturday night one can walk up
Rugby Road and into any number of Fraternity parties. These Fraternities
are required to have a guest list, but this is easy for Hitchhiker's to
subvert if they are aware of UVa tradition. Thomas Jefferson, Satan and
God are on most every fraternity guest list. Simply name yourself one of
these three immortals, and you will gain entry and alcohol.
For weeknights, partying usually does not take place on Rugby as much as on
other roads and residences around UVa. You might take a walk down Jefferson
Park Avenue South of Central Grounds and listen for music.
For bars, the Corner is the best place to go. The Corner is a collection of
shops, restaurants and bars down University Avenue, east of the Rotunda.
One of the best bars is hidden behind the Corner itself, up 14th Street on
Wertland Street. This bar is St. Maartens. There are two types of hotwings
there that are not on the menu. For those with asbestos mouths, request the
"Death Wings" or the "Seventh Level of Hell" wings. On the Corner itself
there is a restaurant called Macados (MAC-a-doos) which makes good
sandwiches, and is home to drinks called the "Gorilla Fart" (useful when
Ipecac Syrup is not available), and the Baltimore Zoo (a.k.a. a whole BUNCH
of alcohol!).
Things To See At UVa
--------------------
If weather permits, lay down on your back at the top of the Rotunda steps,
and hang your head down to the step below you. Look out at the Lawn upside
down. It's quite an interesting site and a lot of fun if you've got a good
buzz going, or even if you don't. If you are still coherent enough to make
out images at 1am, you might try sitting on the Lawn for a while to watch
for streakers. Streaking the Lawn is another old UVa tradition. After
watching for streakers for a while you might want to walk off some of your
drink. Take a nice LONG walk down McCormick Road to Hereford College (a
UVa. Residential College on top of Observatory Hill) and watch the sun rise.
Alternatively, take one of the many tours offered by the University Guides.
The Guides are all UVa students who volunteer to give tourists tours of the
Grounds. Perhaps you might like to drop by Edgar Allen Poe's old room on
the Range. He was a student here for a semester. Saturdays during the fall
you can attend a UVa football game and watch the Cavaliers in action,
watched by students dressed in their Sunday best, drinking Bourbon and Coke
(another tradition). Don't miss the humourous antics of the Virginia Pep
Band at half-time!
Advice For Hitchhikers
----------------------
It is very easy to lose track of one's purpose in the face of the parties at
UVa. Make sure to have people watch out for you - Charlottesville is a
city, and crime is a problem. Wahoos in general are friendly folks, they
will take care of you if you ask nicely (or at least stuff you inside
somewhere relatively safe to sleep off anything you need to sleep off). As
for a place to stay, Housing at UVa is overcrowded, so knowing someone is
the best way to go. If you have access to funds you might stay at one of
the many hotels in Charlottesville. The Best Western Cavalier Inn is within
walking distance from Central Grounds.
Avoid the dining halls if possible, a company called ARAMARK is contracted
to serve food in these places. The term food is interpreted VERY loosely.
Your most stable bet for food is going to be the McDonald's in the Barracks
Road Shopping Center. Most of the restaurants on the Corner have good food
as well.
In the final analysis UVa is a very fun place to be. The music scene is
excellent (the Dave Matthew's Band got their start here), the parties are
loud and fun, the students are engaging (as a general rule), and the
environment is beautiful. I highly recommend a visit for any Hitchhiker.
Field Researcher's Note: This article is IMHO and not a definitive guide
to UVa.