The University of Chicago Magazine

1910 “Students who twenty years ago would have gone to Germany are now remaining in the United States for their advanced training,” wrote physics professor Robert Andrews Millikan in the November issue. Millikan cited the “hundredfold” increase in the quality and quantity of American contributions to science—in which the University had a role—as the reason graduate students were remaining in the States. While approving the increasing graduate-student enrollment, he also noted that “the need of increased facilities and enlarged space has been keenly felt,” and applauded Ryerson’s upcoming renovations.

photo: from our pages 1955 Televised education might strike many couch potatoes as oxymoronic, but Herman Finer, a University professor of political science, apparently thought differently. According to the January issue, Finer taught a class, worth a half-credit, through a 12-program series of Sunday morning WNBQ telecasts. Governments and Human Nature focused on modern-day states and how their policies might affect the U.S. Potential enrollees could register in the University’s home study department, paying $22.50, while those who wished to audit the class, as it were, could do so for $2 through the same department.

1980 In a survey of the 900 surviving Class of 1930 alumni, the Magazine asked whether they would choose to attend the U of C if they could go back and do it all over again. The overwhelming majority of the 156 respondents said they would, reported the September issue. Answering another question, what they had enjoyed most at the University, alumnus Arnold Harly mentioned “the cinnamon toast at the C-Shop.” “Alas, Arnold,” the Magazine lamented, “the cinnamon toast is a victim of the fast-food phenomenon.”

1995 An indignant classicist wrote into the Magazine’s October issue about “an unspeakable and inexcusable grammatical abomination.” He was referring to the Reunion banner, pictured in the August/95 “Chicago Journal,” which read “Emeritus Alumni” instead of “Emeriti Alumni.” “Photographically advertised to the whole of academe. For shame! For shame!” J. Periam Danton, PhD’35, scolded. The editor replied, “With a sigh of ‘Errare humanum est,’ the Alumni Association promises that next year’s banner... will receive a thorough copyedit.”