Trustee makes naming gift to Bennett Hall

Bennett Hall will officially be renamed Fisher-Bennett Hall in recognition of a substantial donation made by Penn graduate and former Trustee Richard Fisher to renovate the building.

"It is a reflection of how grateful we are to" recognize Fisher's generous gift, School of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston said of the building's renaming, noting the renovation's significance to the liberal arts community at Penn.

The building, which is presently home to the English Department, is currently undergoing $20.9 million in substantial interior and exterior renovation scheduled to be completed in August 2005.

"Today's faculty and students deserve the best environment for their own work. I believe this project will provide just that. I am very pleased to be able to contribute toward its success," Fisher said in a statement.

Though English Department Chairman James English was unaware of the renaming, he said that "what's important to me, and I think to the department, is that the renovation is being funded, and we are most grateful to Richard Fisher for supporting this project and other initiatives over the years."

As for renaming the building Fisher-Bennett Hall versus Bennett-Fisher Hall, Preston said that there were many different factors that contributed to the decision.

Preston added that Fisher "has stayed close to the department and the school," and is delighted to be able to donate the money for the renovation.

College sophomore and English major Terra Gearhart said that, because of the building's history, she is not displeased with the name change.

"I'm not really familiar with who Bennett was, so I guess if it was named for [someone who had donated money] anyway, then that would be fine," she noted, adding that, had it been previously "named after someone on account of merit, then I think it would be a little shallow to add the name just because someone gave money."

However, if a donation enabled Bennett Hall to be constructed "in the first place, [then the name change] doesn't make it any worse," Gearhart said.

Bennett Hall, originally named for Joseph Bennett -- a local clothing merchant and women's education supporter who donated the money and land that allowed the building to be completed in 1926 -- was once the home of the Penn College for Women.

Fisher, a senior partner at the New York real estate development firm Fisher Brothers & Leslie, graduated from Penn with a B.A. in English in 1963 and a doctorate in English in 1967.

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