Coastie
From Badger Herald Wiki
The term coastie most commonly refers either to females wearing clothing such as UGG boots, North Face jackets and large sunglasses, to females projecting an annoyingly entitled attitude or both. Coastie can also simply refer to a male or female from a coastal region or even an urban area such as Chicago. The term can sometimes refer to a Jewish student, a use likely based on the large influx of out of state Jewish students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison around the 1930s. The term was likely coined in Madison in the '90s, though its first use is unknown.
While the term can and often is used disparagingly, many UW students self describe as coasties or use the word affectionately. The most common use is probably as a simple descriptor term, albeit one with a slightly negative connotation in many cases.
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History of segregation by geographic origin at UW
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According to Jonathan Pollack, history instructor at Madison Area Technical College:
Around the 1920s, many universities nationwide limited the number of Jewish students admitted. Some universities in the South and the Midwest, including UW, began to target Jewish students. It worked, and by the 1930s, Jewish enrollment at UW was about 10 percent of the student population. Out of state students, however, were not guaranteed on campus housing. That combined with many landlords' discrimination against Jews resulted in Jewish entrepreneurs creating private housing for Jewish students. These private dorms were the direct descendants of the private dorms around campus today.
First known uses
The first publication of the term coastie UW English professor Eric Raimy could find was in a Badger Herald ArtsEtc. article from 2002, "George Clinton vs. Raccoon,"[1] the Raccoon being Rocky the Herald Comics Raccoon seen on the Herald comics page to this day.
The excerpt containing the term:
Speaking of Pabst, the good ol’ Blue Ribbon was graciously served at the well-appointed Orpheum bar. As I climbed upon a stool to summon a barmaid, a Coastie next to me ordered a Vox on the rocks. High-priced liquor is not magic; it will not turn you into not-a-jackass.
Media attention
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References
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