[NU Sports] Bienen and the music school

[Dennis W. Brandt]

I sent the music school a question as to why Bienen's name is being attached 
to the new building.  Here is what I got from Marck Bailey, the 
communications/web manager of the music school.

You ask a fair question, but I wonder if the question assumes that
the School of Music had any say in its naming. In fact, the entire
notion of naming the school after the Bienens (which all happened
incredibly fast) came from the NU Board of Trustees. They wanted to
find a way to honor the outgoing president, and this felt like the
right move. Choosing the Bienens does not in any way suggest that
John Paynter or Glenn Bainum were not important to our school's
history, but I'm guessing that Pat Ryan (chairman) and the rest of
the Trustees didn't know these two people as well as they knew
President Bienen. In some ways, the naming gift comes down to the old
maxim: "Timing is everything."

And this isn't to say that there aren't plenty of other opportunities
for naming elements of the school in the memory of such memorable
people from our past. For instance, the new building (starting
construction next year) has yet to receive a naming gift, and the new
recital hall is also looking for a naming gift. Let us hope that some
generous people come forward and consider gifts in memory of these
people who helped build the School of Music's legacy.