UB renames Kapoor Hall

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo is renaming the building that is home to its School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences after the SUNY Board of Trustees today passed a resolution revoking the building’s current name.

Effective immediately, the building will no longer be known as the John and Editha Kapoor Hall, and henceforth will be called the Pharmacy Building.

UB alumnus John Kapoor was convicted in May of racketeering conspiracy by a federal jury. The SUNY Board of Trustees resolution also revoked the honorary degree awarded in 2000 to Kapoor and states that his crimes violate the university’s core principles and run counter to the ethical standards taught within UB’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

A link to the full resolution will be be posted on the SUNY Board of Trustees' website.

The SUNY Board of Trustees’ action was the final step in a process initiated by the UB Council on June 3 when it passed a resolution revoking the building’s name and recommending the decision to SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson and the SUNY Board of Trustees for final determination.  

The building, located on UB’s South Campus, was named for Kapoor in 2008. More information about the university’s decision to revoke the building’s name is available in this UB webpage.

Revocation of the honorary degree was recommended to Chancellor Johnson by UB President Satish K. Tripathi earlier this month after a review was conducted by UB’s honorary degree committee.

“I am appreciative of the careful attention given to this serious matter by SUNY’s leadership, by the UB Council and by members of the university community,” Tripathi said. “Together, we have taken judicious steps to uphold the core values of our university and protect its reputation.”

Over the next several days, the university will begin to install new signage on the Pharmacy Building. References to the building on other campus signage and on university maps and websites also will be updated.

The Pharmacy Building name was recommended and approved by the university after review of long-standing university policies and practices for namings not associated with gifts. The name was selected because it best describes programmatic activities occurring within the building.

Founded in 1886, UB’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of the top-ranked schools of pharmacy in the country and is ranked No. 1 in the state by U.S. News and World Report.