Building named in honor of dean of Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Written by LILIANA NAVA OCHOA News Writer Published on May 24, 2012 Filed under Campus News, Front page story, Top Stories

In Fall 2012, 194 Chemistry building will no longer be Chem 194. Instead, the building has been renamed Peter A. Rock Hall.

Beginning Fall 2012, Peter A. Rock Hall, or Rock Hall for short, will be the new name for 194 Chemistry, named after Peter Rock, the founding dean of the Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences for eight years before retiring in 2003. Rock had worked at UC Davis since 1964. Three years later, on June 14, 2006 he passed away and now, six years later, 194 Chemistry will be renamed in his honor.

Hes my predecessor and he [was] very passionate about the quality of teaching and as you know, Chemistry 2 is really fundamental to many and the quality affects the campus as a whole. And not only that, he felt passionate about it. He also taught a lot himself and his textbook in general chemistry, which he wrote with Professor McQuarrie, is a pretty well-known textbook, so we thought that we should honor him, said current Dean of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Winston Ko.

The Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences is under the College of Letters and Science which is celebrating its 60-year anniversary this year. Ko feels that renaming 194 Chemistry in Rocks memory is very fitting during the 60-year anniversary of the College of Letters and Science.

In order to have a building named after someone, it is a requisite that the person have been deceased for at least two years and the chancellor makes the renaming proposal to the president that comes from the department dean, according to Ko.

Ko said the chemistry chair made the case to rename the building and then he proposed it to the naming committee.

Neurobiology, physiology and behavior junior transfer student Lillian Ghaly said she didnt see any problem with the name change.

I dont think it makes a difference. I mean maybe at first itll be like Oh, its not Chem 194 anymore, but I mean theres no meaning for the name Chem 194 to me, said Ghaly.

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194 Chemistry to be renamed Peter A. Rock Hall