T’aint Columbia University if you don’t find out something weird every day.

For years, students have used creative slang to refer to Columbia structures. The gate bisecting Barnard’s Reid Hall is referred to as the Chastity Gate, since it closes at 10 pm (when not under construction). Before the Diana Center was the Diana Center, it used to be called “The Vag,” a loving shortening of the building’s former name of the Vagelos Center. Maybe the most irreverent of all, the gate between Hartley and Wallach is known as the “Taint Gate.” (If you don’t know what a taint is, please look it up.)

Naturally, none of these names have ever been acknowledged by the Barnard or Columbia administrations. Until now. As some of you may know, Columbia Public Safety has a website that lists what gates are open at what times. Upon opening this website the other day, I scrolled to the bottom and…

Yeah. 

Why? Who did this? Naturally someone who has the responsibility of making executive decisions on the content of Columbia websites. Right? Or was it some rogue IT intern who pulled a prank? Who doesn’t love guerrilla internet vandalism…

Then I considered the alternative explanation for this act. Was Taint Gate now the official name of that gate? Will a plaque reading “Taint” be put above it? Will it be added to Google Maps? 

It turns out I was right. Yes, the Taint Gate is an unofficially official name. According to WikiCU, it is “commonly used by facility directors and employees, and included in some University documents.” WikiCU also writes that former Columbia Office of Communications and Public Affairs publication the Columbia University Record stated that it is known as the Taint Gate because “T’aint part of Hartley and ’t’aint part of Wallach.”

So there we have it. “Taint” is an official part of the Columbia administration’s vocabulary, and the name of an official gate on campus. Abuse that as you wish.

Taint via Columbia Public Safety website