The illustrious acronym. Think NSFW, SUV, or YOLO. From BET to the FBI, acronyms denote institutional authority, and cultural legitimacy. However, to the uninitiated, it can be hard to figure out what these caps lock configurations stand for. To make back-to-school a bit easier, the Tribune is proud to provide you with a beginners guide to Acronyms Around Campus (AAC). 

SSMU: 

The Students’ Society of McGill University is one of the school’s oldest and most notable student institutions, which provides extensive services for all McGillians. Its expansive headquarters (affectionately, and unofficially known as ‘the Shatner building’, after a celebrated alumnus) are conveniently located on Rue McTavish, housing everything from the governing body’s office to its substantial registry of clubs and organizations. Fun fact: built in the tumultuous ’60s, Shatner is constructed to be ‘riot-proof’, and is rumoured to have a secret tunnel running to James Administration.

HMB: 

This is common student shorthand for McGill’s current principal, Heather Munroe-Blum. (Or as some like to joke, ‘Her Majesty Blum’). As Principal, her numerous responsibilities include overseeing developments in research and infrastructure. A glance at her qualifications would lead the curious reader to a colourful world full of additional acronyms, such as Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy), B.S.W. (Bachelor of Social Work), and the gold B.M.W. she is rumoured to drive around in.

MTL:

Save your thumbs the text-work and adopt this acronym if you haven’t already. Often preceded by “swag,” a hashtag, or a combination of the two, MTL—code for Montreal—is shorthand for cool kids with better things to do than spell out entire words.

Arts OASIS: 

An acronym with a clever double meaning. Not only is the Arts OASIS—especially during Add/Drop season—a veritable sanctuary of calm, it also stands for the Arts Office of Advising and Student Information Services. Be sure to arrive early—if you have to ask how early, you’re not early enough—to room 110 of Dawson Hall, Monday to Friday to receive service regarding everything from degree planning to studying abroad. You can also reach advisors through Arts OASIS’ telephone and chat systems, if you don’t like waiting in line out the door and down the hill.

SAQ: 

Though this isn’t technically a fixture of McGill, the Société des Alcools du Québec is, nonetheless, a ubiquitous presence in the average McGill student’s life. Make sure to check hours of operation before you leave your last minute liquor run to 11:00 p.m.

CKUT: 

McGill’s premier campus radio has been in operation since 1987 and is run by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. They broadcast their unique, non-profit programming 24 hours a day, so make sure to tune in to CKUT 90.3 FM for all of your four-in-the-morning reggae cravings.

ICS:

Here we have the inception of this glossary—an acronym within an acronym. ICS is the name of McGill’s IT (information technology) Customer Services program. ICS rents out audio-visual equipment at their 688 Sherbrooke West desk, and supply an array of other IT services and troubleshooting help via phone or email.

BMH: 

Not to be confused with HMB, Bishop Mountain Hall serves hundreds of students living in McGill’s scenic Upper Residences (Gardner, Molson, and McConnell halls). If an extensive salad bar, a mountain view, and a dearth of corners (the hall is round) is what you’re after, the uphill trek is well worth it.

AUS/SUS/MUS: 

Any acronym you may encounter that ends in ‘US’ can usually be counted upon to represent some sort of cohort of undergrads. All faculties have them and they come second only to SSMU in terms of serving the student body by organizing events like GAs (general assemblies), faculty froshes, and the Blues pub—if you’re lucky enough to be part of the EUS (engineering).

MFDS:

McGill Food and Dining Services provide services to students in residence, as well as upper-years. However, what sets MFDS apart from your run-of-the-mill university dining service is its ongoing commitment to sustainability (that, and its Martlet-in-a-chef-hat logo). Look no further than its commitment to local resources, best exemplified by its monthly Local Food Day events, for a pseudo home-cooked meal. However, stay away if you’re looking for something more reasonably priced.

So there it is, your brief introduction to McGill shorthand. Immerse yourself in the world of Belle Pro, BDP, and St. Cat’s, and spend all the extra time you save on salvaging your GPA.