When Computer Science Prof. Eric Roberts talks about the divide between “techies” and “fuzzies,” he refers to the words of C.P. Snow, a famed physicist turned novelist.

Snow broke down the split: “Literary intellectuals at one pole — at the other scientists . . . between the two a gulf of mutual incomprehension — sometimes, particularly among the young, hostility and dislike but most of all lack of understanding.”

Roberts said he believes that this deep division might have harmful effects on students on the Farm.

“It’s been told to me that the first question asked to students who come to Stanford for Admit Weekend is, ‘Are you a techie or a fuzzie?’ “ he said.

But, future ProFros who don’t know the answer — and underclassmen who are in the same boat — should take comfort in knowing that some have never had to pick one camp. These students, who have broken the mold, have labeled themselves as either “fuchies” (rhymes with duckies) or “tezzies.”

Similar to libertarians, self-described “fuchies” and “tezzies” say they do not abide by the established system, but instead try to combine the best of both worlds. If there is indeed a gap between the humanities and the natural sciences then these students are the ones attempting to bridge it.

That said, even students who are familiar with the terms “fuchie” and “tezzie” admit that figuring out which students fit these bills is difficult.

While a student double-majoring in English and biology might be an obvious “fuchie,” it is less clear what to call a management science and engineering major.

Senior Josh Seifert, an MS&E major, said that his program “definitely has that allure of being in between, but it’s more techie.” He added that the program just happens to fall on “the fuzzie end of the techie spectrum.”

Junior Josh Mendoza said that the term “tezzie” can only be properly applied to double-majors.

“It’s probably someone like a pre-med or engineer who mixes political science or English on the side,” Mendoza said.

He also said he thinks “tezzies” place greater emphasis on the sciences and that it is harder for humanities students to mix in science “on the side” than vice versa.

Sophomore Shelley Cheung, who will most likely major in both English and human biology, described herself as a “tezzie.” She said she believes that, judging by their interests alone, most students probably don’t fall so neatly into the techie / fuzzie dichotomy.

“I think a lot of people are both,” Cheung said. “But they just don’t have enough time or units to fit in both interests, so they pick one or the other.”

Human biology by itself is considered by some to be a “tezzie / fuchie” major because of its core’s division into two tracks, one focused on biology and one focused on public policy and social theory.

Junior Kristin Cohoon, who is leaning toward a human biology major and an English minor, identifies herself as a “tezzie” but she seemed unsure whether the term indicated well-roundedness or a lack of direction.

Perhaps it is the latter since Cohoon said she has an “interest in everything.”

There are stereotypes associated with both “techies” and “fuzzies” — most commonly that “techies” are neurotic nerds and that “fuzzies” are students who go through school without learning anything substantive.

Cheung said that although Stanford might appear deeply divided, she believes the strength of interdisciplinary programs puts the University at an advantage compared to its peer institutions.

Roberts said he thinks that the “battle for hegemony” between the “techie” and “fuzzie” departments exists because both are so strong.

“Nobody’s going to think of Harvard as a techie school,” he said. “And with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology it’s the opposite.”

Even so, “fuchies” and “tezzies” demonstrate that there’s a third-party alternative to Stanford’s seemingly rigid two-party system.