A phrase that may only make sense to Northwestern College students, staff and faculty: “After P&W, I’m going to get my car from Purgatory and drive it to the RSC to grab some cheese curds with Spoons. Once we’re done, I’ll park my car in heaven before heading to study in the Fishbowl.”
To someone who isn’t well-versed in NW’s culture, these sentences would be very confusing. Purgatory? Spoons? Fishbowl?
One of the ways NW lives out its motto of “standing out” and cultivating an inclusive community for new and returning students is by making up its own lingo for people and places on campus.
Some of the terms that might be heard on campus are “Heaven,” “Purgatory” and “Hell.” These terms do not refer to topics covered in Christian Story I. Rather, they refer to the parking options on the east side of campus.
Students who live in Stegenga Hall (Steg) or North Suites will often choose to park in one of these lots. Heaven is the lot right behind Steg, Purgatory is located a block to the west, and Hell is the farthest away from campus, located right across the street on the south side of New Hope Evangelical Free Church.
Heaven is exclusively for upperclassmen, while Purgatory and Hell are free game for whoever can get a spot first. Speaking from experience, if you have a spot in Purgatory and happen to leave to go to the store even just for fifteen minutes, it will be taken.
“Fishbowl” is one of the common studying spaces on campus. It is the conference room surrounded by glass walls located right next to Campus Ministries in Ramaker.
In addition to places on campus, there are a few people who are known almost exclusively by the nicknames they were given at some point throughout their time on campus.
The first is “Tommy Fedora”. Thomas Anderson (Tommy Fedora or T-Fed) is a senior business administration/marketing major.
Anderson received his nickname within the first couple of weeks of his freshman year, (fall of 2020). “I was in the lobby with a few Hospers guys and Simm (the previous Hospers RD) and I already had the reputation of having a fedora all the time. So, they started trying to come up with nicknames for me,” Anderson explained. “My RA at the time thought ‘Tommy Gun’ was the name for me. Simm interjected and was adamant that ‘Tommy Fedora’ (with a slight gangster accident) must be the name.”
He went on to explain how at first, he didn’t like the name, but it soon grew on him, and soon the entire campus knew him as “Tommy Fedora!”
Fedora was given this nickname due to his many fedoras he would wear every day. He explains, “I had a few my freshman year, but my collection only continues to grow.” He now has 29 fedoras, two of which belonged to his great-grandfather, the man who initially sparked his love for fedoras.
Another nickname that is known across campus is “Spoons.” Stephen Danner (Spoons) is a senior actuarial science major.
Danner got his nickname during the first week of classes in his freshman year, also in 2020.
This was during Covid, so as students entered the cafeteria, they were given silverware in a cup.
“One day, I sat down and noticed my cup had two spoons in it”, said Danner. “They call me two spoons!”
Danner explained how the name “Two Spoons” was shorten to “Spoons” almost immediately and since then, about 90% of campus has only known him as “Spoons.”
Danner also mentioned how most people don’t even know his real name until months after meeting him.
