Lewis & Clark Traditions and Lingo

Activities Fair: Find out more about Student Groups at the fair held in early January.

Akin Ghost: Rumor has it that a friendly spirit occupies Akin Hall.

Alma Mater:

Standing by Willamette’s waters, tow’ring o’er its blue, rises our dear Alma Mater, proudly to the view.

Where the town and snow-capped mountain, charm the heart and eye, there our love will center ever, love that cannot die.

Chorus: Swell the chorus, ever louder, full of joy and cheer, hail to thee, our Alma Mater—Lewis and Clark, so dear.

ASLC: Associated Students of Lewis & Clark College. All students registered in the College of Arts and Sciences or Academic English Studies (AES) are members of the association upon payment of the student body fee.

Black History Month: The Black Student Union organizes this month-long awareness celebration during February.

Bombshelter: The basement of Howard hall.

The Bon: Pronounced “the bone,” this is the nickname for Fields Dining Room located in Templeton Student Center.

Casino Night: An annual student, faculty, and staff social event where participants can play a variety of casino games. The funny money used buys raffle tickets for assorted prizes. It is funded through ASLC.

Dance Extravaganza: A spring event created by LC dance students. It is entirely student directed, choreographed, and performed.

Dovecote: An espresso café in the Albany Quadrangle.

E&D: Exploration & Discovery, a two-semester course that all first-year students take.

Environmental Affairs Symposium: Providing an interactive forum for some of the crucial environmental issues of our time, participating students, faculty, and visitors holding a variety of perspectives can share ideas and learn from each other at this fall event.

Family Weekend: Parents and families of current students are invited to campus to attend classes with their students, meet faculty and staff, and explore Lewis & Clark.

Gender Studies Symposium: Focusing on issues of gender, race, and class, this symposium includes an art exhibit, theatre performances, roundtables, workshops, paper panels, and keynote talks by prominent guest speakers. It’s a student‑centered event, with students presenting papers and participating in roundtable discussions alongside College faculty and staff and visiting scholars from throughout the country.

The Glade: The elliptical grassy area located between Frank Manor house and Pamplin Sports Center, often referred to as the “grassy knoll”.

Holiday Gala: The annual Winter celebration for LC community members and alumni.

Homecoming Dance: This is LC’s only major off-campus, all student event. Following the Homecoming football game, relax and enjoy friends while dancing the night away at a selected location in downtown Portland.

International Affairs Symposium: A three day event in the spring that brings world‑renowned experts together with students and faculty to discuss critical questions regarding international relations. Through presentations, discussions, and informal interaction, opposing viewpoints are heard and debated.

International Fair: Occurring yearly on the first Saturday in March, this ISLC coordinated event attracts students, staff, and members of the Portland community to its fantastic food and incredible cultural display.

LC Salsa Fiesta: Started by a student in 1999, this annual celebration of the Mexican American/Chicano/Latino heritage has grown into a favorite LC event, attracting hundreds of students for lessons and dancing.

LC Olympics: Organized around Homecoming in the fall, this 5-day competition includes both serious and fun athletic and intellectual events.

Lu’au: Taking place every spring, this popular LC event features authentic Hawaiian food, costumes, music, and dancing. The Lu’au is the result of months of preparation by the Hawaii Club.

Maggie’s: An espresso café and convenience store in Roberts Hall.

Mossy Log: April Fool’s Day edition of the student newspaper.

Motto: Explorare, Discere, Sociare (Translation: to explore, to learn, to work together)

The Nail: Short for the “Rusty Nail,” this Copeland venue is often used by the Activities Congress and student groups for various concerts, meetings, and other events.

Orange & Black: Lewis & Clark’s school colors adopted in 1891 by the students of the College (then Albany College) in honor of their President Elbert Condit’s alma mater, Princeton.

Otto Sack Day: When the College first moved to these grounds, Otto Sack was a grounds keeper who worked diligently to keep the campus beautiful. Otto Sack Day was initiated many years ago in his memory to involve students in various projects to help maintain and beautify the grounds. The Pamplin Society of Fellows organizes this yearly event.

Pac Man Lawn: The “Pac Man” shaped grassy area located between Tamarack and West Hall.

PAC Pamplin: For this Pioneer Athletic Club sponsored event, Pioneer boosters pack into the Pamplin Sports Center to support Lewis & Clark’s basketball teams.

Pio Express: The express bus service that provides free transportation from the College to downtown Portland.

Pio Log: The student-run newspaper of Lewis & Clark, the Pioneer Log.

Pioneers: Lewis & Clark’s athletic team mascot. After the College moved to its present location in 1942, Albany’s nickname of the Pirates was abandoned in favor of Pioneers to reflect the new pioneering “spirit” of the College.

Ray Warren Multicultural Symposium: Focusing on diversity and multicultural issues surrounding race and ethnicity, this symposium strives to increase the College’s awareness of cultural history, ethnic identity, and knowledge of social issues impacting minority communities localy and nationally.

Shoe Tree: Decorating the tree between Spruce and Juniper with shoes was a tradition started many years ago.

Sunburn: This is the last major social event of the academic year, featuring well‑known bands to celebrate the end of the year.

Take Back the Night: An annual spring event that educates the community about the seriousness and pervasiveness of sexual assault and intimate violence.

Up All Night: This spring event is Platt-Howard’s 59th Annual Up-All-Night, which consists of varying fun and festivities all night long within the building.