What's in a Name? (draft)

Many students have come and gone from Rowan University. They have walked these hallowed halls, sat in these classrooms, and expanded their knowledge in all of the buildings that make up this beautiful New Jersey campus. However, have they ever wondered how the buildings they enter everyday got their names? The buildings on the Glassboro campus were inspired by people who made contributions to our university such as, past presidents and those who have donated money to our school. People who have made the campus the powerful institution it is today.

One such named hall is Savitz Hall, where most students go to solve issues with bursars, residential life, or financial aid. The building was named after Rowan’s first president, Doctor Jerohn Savitz. According to Rowan’s history site, he was responsible for “expanding the curriculum on the training program for teachers.” However, Dr. Savitz had the unlucky lot to be the president while the country was in the grip of the Great Depression. However, even in the face of such a crushing national morale Dr. Savitz continued expansion of the university changing it from a 2 year program to the 4 year program it is today.

A hall named for an entirely different reason is Bunce Hall and its infamy to both faculty and students alike is rooted one belief, Bruce Hall is haunted. Named after Doctor Edgar Bunce, Rowan’s history site states that he was known for creating “a junior college program in 1946 to serve World War II veterans taking advantage of the GI Bill.” If you want to know more about the ghost, ask any of the Rowan students!

During the 1950s, our third president Doctor Thomas Robinson increased enrollment and added several buildings to the campus. Does that name ring a bell? Robinson Hall was named in his honor where many majors reside such as psychology and sociology. Rowan’s history site also mentions that our fourth president Doctor Mark Chamberlain guided this school through the next phase of enrollment, which actually doubled. He was able to help this school become a “multi-purpose institution.” In addition, new majors were added and the “four divisions would turn into their own separate schools.” It is no wonder that there is a building named after this man since he contributed so many important aspects to our school.

Our fifth president Doctor Herman James assumed the leadership in 1984 and with his help we were able to establish the first doctoral program. Also, he added two more schools known as the College of Engineering and Communication. Lastly, he helped build some of the well-known places at our school such as the Campbell Library, Student Recreation Center, and Rowan Hall.

However, the most important name of all is our school’s name, which is Rowan. Did you know that in July 1992 Henry Rowan and his wife Betty generously donated 100 million dollars?
At that time it was the largest gift ever given to a public college in the history of higher education! This is the main reason why we decided to change our name to Rowan College of New Jersey so we can show our appreciation to this man and his wife. According to Jerry Gray from the New York Times, President James “would be used to establish a school of engineering and to create visiting professorships.” However, “Mr. Rowan didn’t plan to serve on the college’s board of directors or to directly see how his donation was spent.” President James made it a priority to establish the College of Engineering so Mr. Rowan was disappointed where the funds went.

In 1998 President Donald Farish was appointed as the sixth president and the people of Rowan University were recently informed of his early retirement in June 2011. Under his leadership, his main goal was to make Rowan University an even better institution. He wanted the rest of the country to see what it had to offer, which is why his biggest goal was to renovate the spent campus and add more buildings. His many improvements expanded the university through the building of the 113-unit townhouse complex, Science Hall, Education Hall, and South Jersey Technology Park. A writer from the Philadelphia Inquirer named Claudia Vargas mentions “he helped the university form a partnership with Cooper University in Camden that led to the development of the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.” One can’t forget the fact that he built Rowan Boulevard, “a 26-acre, $300 million redevelopment district that links the campus to Glassboro’s historic downtown”. The newest apartments and the newly finished Barnes and Noble will probably be one of Farish’s many legacies.

Many of our honorable past presidents have a building named after them because they have contributed many aspects to make Rowan the school it is today. One can’t help but wonder once President Farish leaves will one of his buildings he helped establish be re-named in his honor? "So many administrators think of their own legacy but . . . his vision goes beyond his term as president," Streb, chair of the communications studies department stated about Donald Farish. The reason why Rowan University is extraordinary is because people have contributed with their vast ideas and others that donated money to continue our legacy in Glassboro, New Jersey.

Bibliography

"From Normal to Extraordinary: The History of Rowan University." About Rowan University. Aug. 2010. Web. 9 Feb. 2011. .

Gray, Jerry. “Glassboro State to Receive a $100 Milllion Donation.” The New York Times 7 July 1998. 11 Feb. 2011 .

Vargas, Claudia. “Rowan President Will Leave Post a Year Early.” The Phildephia Inquier 7 Jan. 2011. 11 Feb. 2011. .