Letters
Does the Greek letter chi stand for Chicago?

Who’s in our X-files?
Am I the only alum in all of U of Chicago-dom who does not know what “X” signifies in the identification by degree of fellow alumni?

In the April/04 Magazine, under my year, two colleagues are identified as AB’52 (like me), but a third is called X’52. Was he an unknown quantity? Was he so wilted after those six-hour comps that he couldn’t even sign his name? Does the Greek letter chi stand for Chicago? Or does X mark the recondite spot in the publication where that letter is explained but which I for one have missed for a half century?

Please enlighten your reader(s), and please consider repeating what that mark means from time to time.

Daniel Mann, AB’52
Bethesda, Maryland

When noting degrees (or the lack of degrees), we favor abbreviations; X is short for ex-student, someone who attended the University but didn’t complete all of his or her degree requirements.—Ed.

The University of Chicago Magazine welcomes letters on its contents or on topics related to the University of Chicago. Letters for publication must be signed and may be edited for space and clarity. To ensure the widest possible range of views and voices, we ask readers to limit their correspondence to 300 words or less.

Please send letters to: Editor, University of Chicago Magazine, 5801 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637. E-mail: uchicago-magazine@uchicago.edu.