WTF! WLCNO (Weingarten Learning Center New Offering): HTDAAP (How To Decode Acronyms At Penn)

If you, hypothetically, read a sign that says “IMINDANGER”, what is your first thought? If you weren’t automatically able to understand that it’s a sign for the  “Icecap Melting Intuitive Nanotechnology Dancing and Nut Growing Energy Renewability” club at Penn, you may need help with acronyms at Penn. 

I, too, once had difficulty with the acronyms at Penn. I once asked someone what “PORES” was after seeing it on their water bottle with a Penn sign. Accordingly, I asked her, “What is PORES? A penn pre-dermatology club? Or a club for people with large pores?”

She hostilely responded, “No? Why the fuck would there be a club about large pores you acne ridden swine?! It’s the Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies, DUH!”

Ashamed of my acne…I mean my mistake, I felt stupid. It felt like everyone knew all the acronyms at Penn but me. That was until I saw a poster that said WLCNO! (read the title bitch), Acronym tutoring at Penn! 

Now whenever I go around campus, I understand every acronym I see. Some are more difficult than others. For example, RECTUM is the Recreational Equestrian Club Team for Undergraduate Men. Not an actual rectum. 

Here’s a little test to see if maybe you too should take the course. Try to decode all of these acronyms, and if you get less than 2/4 consider taking the course!:

HELPME

DRL

BASEMENT

NOFOOD

Key:

Helium Electricity Lamps at Penn Mechanical Engineering

David Rittenhouse Laboratory 

Bringing Amazing Science, Engineering, Math, Electricity, and Newtonians Together 

Navigating Our Food On Over Decomposition club