10 People You Will Always Run Into At American University

Just because American University doesn’t have a football team, doesn’t mean it’s very different from other college experiences. Students here are passionate, ambitious and smart – maybe even to the point that some other college kids don’t understand us. But, if you are able to hang around long enough, here’s ten kinds of people you will always run into at American University!

1. WONKS

WONK is a marketing campaign created by AU to describe their students. They KNOW everything about their field, and dominate every aspect of it (Get it? Yeah, no one does). Some AU students live by the WONK lifestyle, and they’re easy to identify. Just look for the one person in class who everyone is rolling their eyes at. Don’t be fooled by the word WONK being plastered on the side of all the shuttle buses, the majority of AU find the phrase annoying and irrelevant.

2. Athletes!

While no one really comes to AU for the amazing tailgates (as you kind of need a football team to do so), that doesn’t mean athletes don’t thrive here. They’re easy to spot, donning their blue and red Eagle tracksuits. You’ll rarely see them in class as their game schedules keep them busy, but they can almost always be found in the gym (taking up all the working treadmills). However, their scarcity doesn’t stop AU students from showing school pride, especially since most sporting events offer free pizza!

3. Frat ‘stars’ and sorority ‘biddies.’

Greek Life, the cornerstone of every university. Just kidding. Although it’s unheard of for students to come to AU for Greek life solely, it’s expanded exponentially on campus over the past few years and now makes up a big portion of the student body. These men and women are always in front of MGC tabling, probably wearing their letters and neon matching ray bans, rain or shine. You can’t deny their dedication! All jokes aside, these are some dedicated people who benefit greatly from their organizations resources. Plus, they usually play great music and hand out food, which can always put you in a good mood.

4. The Social Justice Warrior

Specifically for AU’s student body, a social justice warrior is one of the most common types of people you’ll run into. These people didn’t choose a school in DC by accident. AU’s campus setting is an ideal platform for them to speak their minds on feminism, LGBTQ rights, what have you. No matter the cause, you’re bound to run into someone on campus or in class who has dedicated their life to solving it, one rally and petition at a time. They are the force behind a very important part of AU’s community, making it one of the main aspects of the student body.

5. The Over Enthusiastic Freshman

Very easy to spot, freshman travel in packs, like scared animals. Not quite yet ready to roam AU’s campus independently, still figuring out the unfamiliar terrain, especially the back buildings from Beeghly to Kreeger. These packs of freshies can also be found in LAQ late at night from Thursday to Saturday, just waiting to find a ride to an extremely stupidly hard to find party. If you happen to find a freshman out on their own, the giveaway will be the deer in headlights expression on their face.

6. The Kogod Power Suit

Anyone who has stayed within the presence of a Kogod student long enough would think their suit never leaves their skin. (Seriously, they wear them all the time). They’re super ambitious and usually very extroverted people. Oddly enough, you can even feel their presence once they’ve left a room through the lingering odor of specifically fancy cologne. You’ll always also hate that they have the most likely chance of making a bunch of money, and that pain arises whenever a Kogod suit clad student walks by in a hurry.

7. Artistic musical theatre nerds!

Their passion for the arts drives them, just as any other AU student is passionate about their subject matter, but in a way where their career is their way of life. They also have to be strong, considering they lug around huge sketchpads, costume cases, and bulky instrument cases. Katzen is their home base, and not a too shabby one at that with it’s gorgeous sculptures and soothing waterfall, overlooking the whole front of campus with a beautiful skyline. It’s never too bad when the everyday students takes an art gen ed and finds themselves immersed in the lifestyle.

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8. TDR Study Rats

It’s surely economical to swipe once and get into TDR for a full day of studying, but these people have it down to a science. They know the times when meals shift and there’s less food, and they always sit by an outlet for optimal battery life. Sometimes, it can even beat working in the library, which is notoriously congested especially around midterms/finals time.

9. Your future [insert legit any political office position here]

One of the most common types. After all, why not? We are in DC, the best place in the country to study world renowned programs found in SIS and SPA here at AU. American is a breeding ground for politicians in said conditions. These are the people you will always run into at American University that may get on your nerves. Despite how these types may annoy you with their work ethic or opposing political views, that kind of passion is enough to get you to think, hey, someone has to do the job, why not my qualified peers? Also, you can stake your life on it that they had an internship at Capitol Hill.

10. Social media savvy SOC students!

Fact: this is the type of person on campus that love Starbucks the most. They constantly hog all the limited spots in the tiny Starbucks, chatting and communicating among each other and with the world while sipping seasonal coffees. They’re also extremely good at speaking quickly and speaking in general.