The UVA Experience?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
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<p>FLAVADAD- I saw those shirts at W&L as well as Richmond. Also, tradition is one thing. Taking your traditions and self so seriously is what leads to the rolling of the eyes by others throughout the state. In fact, its hard to take this thread very seriously when people are saying fratboys at UVirginia are not stereotypical. Anyone with an outside perspective on this thread would instantly realize the pretentiousness exists. One would never see anything like this at UNC which is the closest peer to UVirgina.</p>

<p>Dont apologize for the pride, just admit some people take it over the top.</p>

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<p>Wahoowa!!! I'm staying up all night, on Mr. Jefferson's birthday in April, to see the Purple Shadows roam about the Lawn!!>>Sorry, more precisely, Mr. Jefferson's Lawn!</p>

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<p>Mckin, I think much of the complaining is often from those who did apply and didn't have the option of attending.</p>

<p>I really don't understand why people have such a problem with Cavs loving their school. Honestly, most of them just really aren't that concerned about whether the Hokies or Tribe have school pride.</p>

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<p>I love UVA and C'ville...anytime I get a chance to drive over to see D, I take it!</p>

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<p>as a parent of a recent UVA,OOS grad, i echo the words of many posters....there's no other like it! a few comments...especially considering the 2/3 Virginian population, and southern feel(we're northeast) i can PARTICULARLY comment on the awesome UVA experience my d had! she was her own person there and loved every minute of it! her non-southern origins made no difference. she LOVED all the tradition, and i agree, it's TRADITION and pride, not snobbery! she visited a number of ivies during hs, and chose NOT to apply to them BECAUSE of snobbery! she found UVA to be academically superior AND a GOOD TIME AS WELL!!!! (WAHOOWA!) she chose not to join a sorority, and had a blast at all the frat parties. she wasn't thrilled with dressing for games, so she didn't, but wore the "orange wave" garb! and for UVA's research...her thesis is on the way to publication! in a high-end scientific journal! yup, UVA has it all! even TJ! :)</p>

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<p>and another word about "first year, second year..." as you all undoubtedly know, that was Mr. Jefferson's way of saying learning never ends...the FIRST year of learning, the SECOND year, etc. this has NOTHING to do with pretentiousness. it simply reflects the incredibly brilliant, holistic view of UVA's architect, first agrarian, etc.....</p>

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<p>swish - so UVA has frats, UNC has them too right? I don't see people dressed up regularly as they head to class (though in the past they did), it looks just like any other typical school. The traditions exist, it's not like we're here just to use the words "grounds" many will just as often use the phrases campus or freshman, surely UNC has traditions too, UVA just has a lot, for better or worse (I agree some are head scratchers). </p>

<p>The whole dressing up for football games is a tradition in the south that started a long time ago and I guess those that dislike UVA have brought that to the attention of everyone. Some schools in the SEC still do it too but the pretentious label isn't given to them for some reason.</p>

<p>Many on this board love UVA and wish to provide assistance to those interesting in attending or learning more about the school.</p>

<p>swish don't you love UNC? Assuming you do I'd bet that you would let others know what you enjoy about it. If you did I'm sure we'd all understand why.</p>

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<p>Swish, you are ridiculous. You're saying that all the members of the 35 IFC fraternities (not even counting the NPHC, MGC, and co-ed fraternities) party every single day, skate by on all their coursework, are drunk every single night, and have lost track the number of girls they have slept with. EVERY SINGLE ONE. </p>

<p>As quoted from the latest edition of the Greek Community newsletter:</p>

<p>Beginning this Fall, OFSL has begun to collect data on the number of service hours generated through our recognized Greek Organizations. Based on this initial collection, which includes approximately 90% of the 58 recognized chapters, the Greek Community has reported 18,179 hours of community service. This also indicates that chapters generate approximately 7.3 hours of service PER PERSON as a result of their involvement in a Greek-lettered organization.</p>

<p>I agree with Protean that some traditions are head scratchers -- streaking? Granted it's a lot of fun, but when you take into account how long the lawn is and the streaker is supposed to sprint all the way through. Hmm?</p>

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<p>This thread reminds me of Dennis Rodman or Terrell Owens, or Bobby Knight. If he is on your team you love him. From the outside, you shake your head and ask what reality does he live in.</p>

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<p>The only reality we wahoos live in is:</p>

<p>UVa was founded by TJ who was one of our nation's founding fathers. It has consistently been ranked in the nation's top 25 universities as well as in top 2 public institutions. Its endowment ranking is in top 20 in the nation. Its 4-year graduation rate is among the top with high percentage of the first years returning in second year. It has better sports teams than most, if not all, of the higher ranked schools. It is located in one of the most beautiful places in the US.</p>

<p>What more realities do I need to list?</p>

<p>Appologize if you got offended by some of the posts here, but we just love and are proud of our Dear Old UVa and everything associated with it. As someone mentioned in this thread, there is magic about UVa, but you got to attend to feel it. Sorry that not everyone gets to experience that...</p>

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<p>Lol, you think Thomas Jefferson = Dennis Rodman or Terrell Owens, or Bobby Knight?</p>

<p>What reality are YOU living in?</p>

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<p>FLVADAD, is that the analogy DoctorB was trying to make? I couldn't follow it--made no sense to me!</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I'm staying up all night, on Mr. Jefferson's birthday in April, to see the Purple Shadows roam about the Lawn

[/quote]
</p>

<p>More details powderpuff pls & t/y</p>

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<p>Vistany,
I'll tell you what I know, but I'm still sort of piecing it together. There is a secret society called the Purple Shadows, they wear purple robes and hoods, and often carry purple writing quills. They are named after a reference to "purple shadows of the Lawn" in a poem written by a UVA alum in 1903.
I have copied and pasted a posting by Globalist, see below:</p>

<p>"VirginiaAlum,</p>

<p>I'm sure you're fabulous. What's the real meaning of success anyway? I think the true characteristics of success can be found in one of my favorite quotes about UVa called "The Honor Men," which was penned by James Hay, Jr. (Class of 1903). </p>

<p>The University of Virginia writes her highest degree on the souls of her sons. The parchment page of scholarship-the colored ribbon of a society-the jeweled emblem of a fraternity-the orange symbol of athletic prowess-all these, a year hence, will be at the best mementos of happy hours-like the withered flower a woman presses between the pages of a book for sentiment's sake. </p>

<p>But... </p>

<p>If you live a long, long time, and hold honesty of conscience above honesty of purse: </p>

<p>And turn aside without ostentation to aid the weak; </p>

<p>And treasure ideals more than raw ambition; </p>

<p>And track no man to his undeserved hurt; </p>

<p>And pursue no woman to her tears; </p>

<p>And love the beauty of noble music and mist-veiled mountains and blossoming valleys and great monuments- </p>

<p>If you live a long time and, keeping the faith in all these things hour by hour, still see that the sun gilds your path with real gold and that the moon floats in dream silver; </p>

<p>Then... </p>

<p>Remembering the purple shadows of the lawn, the majesty of the colonnades, and the dream of your youth, you may say in reverence and thankfulness:</p>

<p>"I have worn the honors of Honor,
I graduated from Virginia"</p>

<p>Vistany>>>>It is rumored that on the very early morning of Thomas Jefferson's birthdays (April 13th), this secret sect will roam the Lawn in their purple garments. It's supposedly fairly eery, but I love that kind of stuff!! Of course, I've only been here one semester, and as I said earlier, I'm still piecing things together. But I do intend to either stay up all night from 4/12-4/13, or to set the alarm clock mighty early!!
If you search "secret societies" you can read about the several secret societies that exist at UVA.</p>

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<p>flvadad/8487-</p>

<p>not much of a sports fan are you? Knight,Owens, Rodman were beloved by their teammates and admired for their effort and success. Their detractors were just as fervent in their dislike b/c of their outrageous personality and outspokenness.</p>

<p>point that you missed was that UVirignia seems to have zealous followers as well as inspire negative feelings from those on the outside.</p>

<p>Get out of your cubicles, be a man and watch ESPN once in a while. The sports references might not go over your head in the future.</p>

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<p>Actually, I am quite the sports fan, I am familiar with the people you reference, I am a woman, and I still don't think your analogy works.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
But I do intend to either stay up all night from 4/12-4/13, or to set the alarm clock mighty early!!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>HAHAHA Thanks Powderpuff! That sounds great.</p>

<p>My first thought was to think of a good vantage point from which to see them. How tough would it be to land a spot on the balcony about the jeff scholars rooms? My second thought was to wear all black so you would be nearly invisible in the dark. My third thought was ...binoculars.</p>

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<p>On the contrary doctorb, my sports knowledge is fully intact. That's exactly why I immediately recognized how poor and ill conceived his statement was.</p>

<p>He could have also used Barry Bonds, Deion Sanders, Claude Lemieux, and a host of others I could name, but the point would still be just as inane. There is no simlitude between the perception of UVA or its traditions with that of sports villians. As clas84/law87 points out, that analogy just doesn't work. </p>

<p>The original comment was already bad enough, but your attempt to explain it as a logical stream of thought was even worse. So instead of throwing out cute little barbs, perhaps you should turn off ESPN and brush up on your critical thinking skills.</p>

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<p>Change the details and this thread could be in the forum for a number of other schools, including one of my alma maters.</p>

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<p>The bottom line is: we shouldn't worry about comments like that.
There are always jealous people out there, and they say anything that they can think of in order to vent their jealousy. However, it never works!</p>

<p>So it is not important whether his analogy is suitable or not.
The most important fact is UVa is perceived as one of the top universities in the nation by general public for its strong academics and the unique tradition, and there are so many high-school students who aspire to attend.</p>

<p>I love UVa not only because of its tradition and academic excellence, but also for its ability to have created and maintain an environment in which one can always feel included and being taken care of.</p>