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What is the source for this "interesting" statement? Which Oxford and Cambridge (or any other) colleges were converted from monasteries? None as far as I know. I propose to amend this part, unless anyone else objects. Thruston10:42, 9 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I have now replaced this nonsensical and unsubstantiated factoid. This is what I deleted:
Quadrangles are descended from the cloister gardens of medievalmonasteries, which were usually square or rectangular gardens or lawns enclosed by open arcades or cloisters. The conversion of many monastic buildings at Oxford and Cambridge to secular colleges set the pattern for green space kept private from persons not members of the college (although Cambridge has 'Courts' and not 'Quads'). Some gardens are further reserved to the fellows or senior members.
I'm guessing that people connected to many college and universities embrace the colloquial "quad". I know for a fact that any of the roughly 30,000 current students and all alumni of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign use that term. The phrase "especially at Oxford University" is misleading because it suggests that "quad" is commonly used at Oxford at a rate above other unviersities.