To All GC Math Ph.D. Program Faculty,

I am happy to report that we have managed (thorough the good graces of our postdoc Yu Yasufuku) to get a limited supply of Hagoromo "Fulltouch" chalk which is made in Japan and is not available for sale in the United States. We have been trying unsuccessfully to get this “miracle” chalk for years, but finally our prayers have been answered. Users of this chalk report that it is the “Rolls Royce” of chalk; for you oenophiles, it may be thought of as the “Chateau Lafite Rothschild” of chalk, or, for you baseball fans, the “Babe Ruth” of chalk… well, you get the idea.

I have heard it said that it is impossible to make a mathematical mistake when writing with this chalk, but I am somewhat dubious of this claim.

The chalk was “smuggled” in stick by stick carried in the beaks of birds (well, practically), so the supply is very limited. We have, however, worked out a distribution system that seems the fairest and that should allow our stash to last for about 3 semesters. Faculty members teaching at GC will get ten sticks of chalk per semester, and those not teaching but who are coordinating (or co-coordinating) a math seminar at the GC and is a member of the Math Doctoral Faculty will each get 2 sticks per semester. This will repeat each semester until the chalk is gone. Faculty should save this chalk for use only during their most important lectures or when working on their most important theorems.

If you currently fall into one of the two categories listed above, please stop by to see me for your chalk and I will check you off of my list. Hopefully, after spring 2011, another supply of these magical white sticks can be procured on the black or gray market, or perhaps Hagoromo will begin distribution in the U.S.

At any rate, enjoy your chalk! Use it wisely.

Best,

Rob

Robert S. Landsman, Assistant Program Officer, CUNY Ph.D. Program in Mathematics