Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Name Change For Chemistry and Physics


Up until this past October students at Hofstra University referred to the building in front of C.V. Starr Hall as the Chemistry and Physics building. This, however, is no longer the case.

The building is now known as Herman A. Berliner Hall in honor of the the provost of the same name.

The name change was brought about by a Hofstra trustee and alumnus who wanted to honor his former economics professor. The trustee, Alan J. Bernon, '76, pictured above, after donating the money said, "I think that of all of Herman's attributes...one of the most special things about him is the care that he had for students both as a professor and an administrator."

Dr. Berliner began his career at Hofstra in 1970 as an assistant professor in economics. He was tenured in 1975, promoted to associate professor in 1978, and became a full on professor in 1985. In 1990 he was promoted to Provost after serving as acting provost for almost a full year.

Berliner had a large influence in the establishment of the School of Communication, Honors College, and the School for University Studies.

Aside from being provost at Hofstra, Dr. Berliner also aerves with TIAA/CREF and has also worked as an associate editor for The American Economist.

Bernon has been a trustee at Hofstra for the past sixteen years and just recently resigned as director of Dean Foods Company in Dallas, Texas. He has been a highly successful businessman since his departure from Hofstra University and said he felt it necessary to give back while honoring someone whom he had a large amount of respect for.

When asked about the name change, Tyler Kulp, a junior at the university said, "Frankly, I could care less. I didn't even know who the provost was until his name was thrown up on this building. As far as I'm concerned, I'm still going to call it the Chemistry and Physics building."

Conversely, some members of the faculty have a different perspective on the renaming. Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz said, "What could be better than naming one of our new important buildings, our science building, after someone who began his career at Hofstra University as a faculty member and in his 39th year at Hofstra has been responsible for Hofstra's academic progress to date."

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