Anthony Frolik wrote:
 
> > Fall, Winter and Spring total the number three.  How can three divisions
> > taken of a total of something be called quarters ??
>
> Well, Summer could also count as a quarter, but I think the U is just
> wacky.
 
This, in fact, is the explanation and it isn't all that wacky.  Most students
only choose to attend school for three of the four quarters, but four there are
(well, actually three and two halves, since summer quarter is divided into two
half length units - call them eighths, I guess).  This isn't even outside the
norm for universities.  Michigan, for instance, is on a trimester system, with
heavily attended Fall and Winter sessions and Spring and Summer terms that are
each half length.
 
J. Michael Neal
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.