Tell me about UVA:

powderpuff
Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:33:09 +0000

Since Thomas Jefferson is soooooo revered at UVA, it all revolves around his initial plans for his university. There’s the Rotunda, the Lawn, the Honor Code, the Secret Societies. The students don’t call the school “a campus”>>it’s referred to as “Mr. Jefferson’s Grounds” or just “the Grounds”.
They don’t say Freshman, sophomore… because Mr. Jefferson’s view on learning was that it’s a progression that continues through life>>therefore at UVA they say 1st year, 2nd year…etc>>and continues until one dies. People here respect these old Jeffersonian aspects of the University.
Also, it is said that students don’t call PhD teaching staff “Dr.” out of respect for Mr. Jefferson, who did not have a PhD. Only true physicians are called “Doctor” on the Grounds–supposedly. I just call all the professors>>“professors”. I don’t think anyone really gives this great thought, but it is somewhere in the UVA stuff.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg.