Speakers acknowledge Beering
during ceremony
By Kori Kamradt
Staff
writer
The Discover Purdue campaign brought about another
historical moment. Last Friday the Liberal Arts and Education Building
was renamed Steven C. Beering Hall of Liberal Arts and Education after
former Purdue president, Steven C. Beering.
The ceremony for the renaming took place in Founder’s
Park in front of the fountain, which was turned on for the first time
this year. There were many influential speakers present who expressed
their appreciativeness for Beering’s work at Purdue and recognized
the many reasons why the building should bear his name
During President Beering’s 17 years at Purdue
there were 20 buildings erected, one of them being the Liberal Arts
and Education Building.
President Martin Jischke said Beering's "vision
can be seen all around us and the building bearing his name is a prime
example."
The Liberal Arts and Education Building was built
in 1993 and it cost $28.5 million. It contains a three-story classroom
wing and seven-story office wing. Jerry Peters, the Interim Dean in
the School of Education, spoke about how before the building was built
he had to use an old dorm room as his office, and he was very happy
when all the Liberal Arts programs were able to come together under
one roof. The Liberal Arts programs would not have been together if
it hadn’t been for Beering overseeing the process of reorganizing
the programs in 1989.
When asked about the contributions to the Liberal
Arts programs that Beering made, Dean Margaret Rowe from the School
of Liberal Arts said, "The building itself is a manifestation of
contributions to Liberal Arts."
She said the renaming of the Steven C. Beering
Hall of Liberal Arts and Education Building "is very important
to the school, and we will be happy to reside in the building named
after him."
During the final moments of the ceremony a portrait
of Beering was revealed. This painting was a replica of the one that
will hang in entry foyer of Beering Hall. Lafayette resident Richard
Halstead painted the portrait, and he, along with President and Mrs.
Beering, uncovered the painting for all to see.
Before coming to Purdue, Beering earned his doctorate
from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; served in the
U.S. Air Force Medical Corps as an adviser to U.S. surgeon general;
was a medical consultant on the U.S. space program; served as a dean
at the Indiana University School of Medicine; and was also the director
of the IU Medical Center.
"I wasn’t sure that a physician coming
from IU had a place here," Beering said. "The thing that makes
Purdue so special is that it is a family that comes together to make
Purdue life special."
He said he is "proud to be a part of this
history."
|
