Traditions
Case Lingo
Elephant Stairs - The covered staircase connecting the lower and upper levels of the south campus residential area.
Grab-It - A dining option in Sears Building where you go when you are between classes and have limited time for lunch. Also called "Bag-it" or "Grab-n-Go."
Greenie - The nickname for the buses used for the free student shuttle service around campus (even though the color of the buses is blue).
Heart of Campus - The area on campus that includes Kelvin Smith Library, Thwing Center, and the greens and walkways surrounding them.
IMs - Intramural Sports groups
Mather Quad - The block located just north of Euclid Avenue, where a majority of Arts & Sciences buildings are located.
NRV - An abbreviation for North Residential Village, which includes all residence halls and Greek houses located north of Euclid Avenue. Also referred to as "Northside."
PBL - The Peter B. Lewis Building, a building designed by Frank Gehry, which houses the Weatherhead School of Management.
Southside - The residence halls and Greek houses located near Murray Hill Road and Carlton Road.
The Quad - Also known as the "Case Quad," this area is located on campus a block south of Euclid Avenue. The Quad is home to all the Engineering Buildings and most administrative offices.
The Village - The newest addition to the North Residential Village, it features apartment-style housing and many modern amenities. It also includes athletic fields, a coffee shop, and a parking garage. (Also known as the Village at 115.)
Top of the Hill - The group of residence halls and south campus fraternity and sorority houses located at the top of the "Elephant Stairs" near Carlton Road.
Turning Point - Located behind Guilford House, this five-pillar sculpture was installed in 1997 by renowned architect Philip Johnson. Turning Point Garden, located adjacent to the sculpture, was added in 2001.
Popular Campus Hangouts
Nord Atrium - Nord is an engineering building located on the Quad. It has an atrium full of tables, chairs, and comfy couches, as well as an Einstein Bros. Bagels. It is a comfortable and convenient place to hang out in between classes.
SAGES Café - Located on the first floor of Crawford Hall, SAGES Café is a coffee shop and eatery that provides a comfortable, accessible space for the SAGES program. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the university also are welcome here.
Silver Spartan/Spartan Diner - A late-night diner located directly adjacent to Northside residence halls and basketball courts.
Thwing Center - Case's student center (pronounced "Ta-wing")
The Jolly Scholar (formerly know as Wackadoo's) - The university's newest dining establishment and student hangout located in Thwing Center.
The Spot - A great place to meet friends, The Spot is located on the bottom floor of Leutner Commons. Food and drink are served, and live bands often perform here.
Rough Rider Room/Carlton Commons - This campus hangout is located at the Top of the Hill, where food and drink are served and student organizations host various programs.
Wade Commons - A place where students go for various meetings as well as a popular location for late-night studying. It is located in the middle of North Residential Village and open 24 hours for students.
Case Myths and Legends
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Adelbert Gymnasium was originally built as a World War I armory. It was never used, however, because it was not completed until 1919.
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Back in 1991, Adelbert Hall (originally built in 1882) lost its title as oldest building on campus. It was ravaged by a fire that went undetected because of the fire's location, until it was too late to save the inside of the building. 
Facing west from the belfry of Amasa Stone Chapel, you will see a gargoyle that is unlike any of the angels facing every other direction. Legend has it that this gargoyle — which spits water when it rains — was commissioned by Western Reserve to spit on and stare at the Case Institute of Technology. The gargoyle looks directly at the "seeker" atop Tomlinson Hall (a former CIT student union), as the seeker gazes out on the Reserve campus.
An apple tree on the Case Quad is rumored to be a descendant of the apple tree that inspired Newton's theory of gravity.