This guide will prepare you for Temple terms and lingo you’re going to need to know as the semester kicks off.
Illustrated by Andrew Collette
This article was last published on May 29, 2024.
Starting college can be overwhelming—you’re trying to meet people and find your way around campus; never mind learning new lingo and terms that you might not be familiar with. Where is that beach that everyone’s talking about hidden on campus? What even is a “Fly in 4” agreement? Your roommate’s catching a show at TPAC—where’s that? Don’t worry—we’ve got the inside scoop on all of the things you’re going to need to know.
The “BSL”
This refers to the Broad Street Line—the subway that you’ll definitely want to know about. You can get around the city quickly using this form of public transportation, plus it’s cheaper than taking an Uber (and it’s better for the environment!). Right across the street from Morgan Hall, you can find the Cecil B. Moore station, where you can take the subway to Center City, South Street or the NRG Station/Sports Complex for games at Lincoln Financial Field.
Beury Beach
Unfortunately, there isn’t a real beach on campus. (Well actually, there sort of is.) Instead, Beury Beach refers to a huge green space near the Bell Tower and the former Beury Hall. It’s one of the most popular spots for hanging out. Now that the lawn has expanded, go here when the weather is nice to do some dog watching or have a picnic with friends.
Fly in 4
Fly in 4 is a program designed to keep you on track and make sure you meet all the requirements you need to graduate on time. You’re signed up automatically upon committing to Temple. Learn more about the program on TUportal.
FroGro
Just a stone’s throw away from Morgan Hall, the Fresh Grocer is a full-service grocery store that serves as a major food shopping location for many Temple students and the surrounding community (and a place to satiate your late-night munchies—it’s open daily until 1 a.m.).
Green hallway
Inside the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, you’ll find the green hallway—an iconic place where student artwork and seasonal showcases are displayed. Every spring, it transforms into a runway for the Wearable Art Show as students model bold, bewildering and beautiful handmade creations. Then in the fall, it serves as the backdrop for Tyler’s Art Market, a creative marketplace where students and alumni exhibit and sell their art during Homecoming and Family Weekend.
The Hub
Stop by the Christopher and Julie Barnett Essential Needs Hub, aka the Hub, which is now fully open to Temple students and the community. Located in the lower level of the Howard Gittis Student Center, this centralized space offers new and expanded resources for food, housing, clothing, health and more, like the Barnett Irvine Cherry Pantry, Temple Thrift and other services.
J&H
Short for Johnson and Hardwick, two of the residence halls on campus, J&H is also commonly used to refer to the Louis J. Esposito Dining Center. You can get a true dining hall experience here—buffet style. Hang out with your friends in booths and choose from a large selection of food like pizza, burgers, chicken sandwiches and salads.
Liacouras Walk
Follow this brick road to the heart of campus and several major buildings that you’ll probably find yourself in during your time at Temple. Located along Liacouras Walk, you can find the Fox School of Business, Saxby’s, Maxi’s, 7-Eleven, Charles Library and more.
Stella’s
If you’re invited to Stella’s, that’s a café in Charles Library where you can get coffee, tea, pastries, and other grab-and-go breakfast and lunch items. With its cozy vibes, Stella’s Café is a great place to relax and recharge.
TPAC (pronounced Tee-pack)
This acronym refers to the Temple Performing Arts Center. As the northern anchor of Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts, the center hosts various cultural and artistic events throughout the year such as Boyer’s large ensemble concerts, the weekly Rite of Swing Jazz Café, film screenings, guest lectures, receptions and more.
The Wall
Next to the TECH Center, there is literally a wall with several food vendors that serve a wide variety of flavor options to satiate all your cravings—there’s Richie’s, Tai’s, Eddie’s Pizza and others. It’s right in front of Anderson and Gladfelter Hall too, so you can grab a quick bite before you head to class!
—Hannah Church
