At my tour at Brown, my tour guide said an interesting story about the name, but I couldn’t find anything online about it. She said that Rockefeller donated money for a library to be built and named after him. Students abbreviated the long name “The John D Rockefeller Memorial Library” to “the rock”. Rockefeller heard about it and said students have to call it by the full name. So students started calling it “the john” and the foundation said “the rock” is ok. Is this true??
I’ve certainly never heard that story before. Doesn’t mean it isn’t true, but it’s not a popular thing being said on Brown’s campus, at least.
I remember hearing that on my tour as well, sounds like it’s something they say every tour. Looked it up online and didn’t find any evidence. It’s probably exaggerated at the least, but I think it still says something true about Brown’s students.
Can’t speak to the veracity of the story, but it’s been a tour guide staple since at least 2005. Surprised bruno has never heard it.
Haha I heard that too on my tour.
bruno, I’m shocked you haven’t heard that story. Seriously. I thought every Brown student knew it.
I graduated from Brown decades ago. That story was being told back when I was on campus. I have no idea if it is true, but I’ve certainly told it many times. Here it is on the Bruin Club website: https://thebruinclub.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2013/11/04/the-question-whats-the-deal-with-these-nicknames/.
I didn’t know Nelson was called the Nelly.
Interesting. I even knew a few people who worked as tour guides. Guess I just missed that one!