Coasties

The term coastie or coasty (more often heard and seen as the plural coasties) is used in Midwestern U.S. universities such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison to denote students who come from either the East Coast or West Coast of the continental U.S. The term is also more loosely applied to out-of-state students from other areas, particularly the Chicago area. Although the most general use of the term denotes only the origin of these students, there are often implicit or explicit associations that use of the term can evoke. One is that coasties do not pay their own tuition because they come from socioeconomically privileged families. Other associations include living in private residence halls and membership in a fraternity or a sorority. Other associations are fashion-related and are therefore more ephemeral. As of 2005, coastie fashion consists of Ugg boots, The North Face jackets, plain spandex and over-sized sunglasses. They also are known to hang out at College Library talking excessively loud to those around them about their sexual encounters on the weekend. It is thought to have some anti-Semitic connotations, because it is often taken to refer to students who are wealthy and Jewish. However, most students at UW-Madison do not use it as an anti-semitic slur, but rather just a derogatory comment for anyone (of any faith) who follows these trends. The term has become increasingly widespread since the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel did a story concerning the differences and tensions between coasties and students from the Midwest.

Other Uses

"Coasties" can be used in reference to the United States Coast Guard, or any member who has served or is serving.

"Coasties" can also be used as a mildly-pejorative reference to persons from or living in the western parts of the states of Oregon and Washington by persons in the eastern parts of those states. It is generally a reference to the lifestyles, cultures, and attitudes -- real or perceived -- that prevail in the more urban/suburban Seattle-Portland corridor, as compared with the more rural and conservative social environment that dominates east of the Cascade Mountains.

External links

*Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article [http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/nov05/370655.asp The great 'Coastie' divide:Ugg boots, private dorms make out-of-state UW students target of teasing]