UCT lexicon

Big Bash

The annual start-of-year orientation party associated with RAG

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Caf

Where you go for a cup of coffee. You can arrange to meet your peeps in one of the more popular cafs in the Steve Biko Building

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DP

A Duly Performed course, which means you are allowed to write your exam

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DPR

Duly Performed Refused, which means you’ve been spending too much time hanging out in the caf

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Early assessment

A formal check to see how you’re doing in your first few months

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First lecture

Where you will find yourself at 8am on a Monday morning if you’re a fresher (see below)

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Fresher

That’s you! Another word for a first-year

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Hot seat

Weekly appointment with a tutor to discuss your progress

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Jammie Plaza

The open area below Jammie Hall

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Jammie Hall

Where most things happen

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Jammie Shuttle

The blue bus that gets you on, off and around campus

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Jammie Thursday

When cool things happen on Jammie Plaza during Meridian

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Lectures

These last for 45 minutes, with 15 minutes in between to get to your next class

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Meridian

Lunch break (during the week, the hour between 1 and 2pm)

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North Stop

One of the main Jammie Shuttle stops on Upper Campus (ditto West Stop)

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OL

Orientation Leader (your person in the know)

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O-Week

When you find your way around campus, make new friends, and join random societies (and quit later)

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Pass mark

Anything above 50%

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Practicals

Where you put nto practice what you’ve learnt in theory (for instance, in a laboratory). These can sometimes be three-hour sessions

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RAG

Stands for ‘Remember And Give’. The fundraising arm of SHAWCO

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Res

Your home from home

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SAX Appeal

The RAG magazine that you are asked to sell at traffic lights while dressed up in funny clothes

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SHAWCO

The socially responsive student-run organisation that offers community outreach opportunities to students. It stands for Students Health and Welfare Centres Organisation

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SRC

Students’ Representative Council, elected in September each year

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Tuts

Small groups that meet to discuss material raised in lectures. Compulsory if you want to get a DP

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Tutor

The person in charge of a tut

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Varsity

Not just where you’re studying, but also the official name of the student newspaper

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Vula

UCT’s official online learning system, where you’ll find everything you need to know about your course

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Year mark

An evaluation of your performance throughout the year

Read more from the
2016 Orientation edition.