Originally the University of Saint-Louis, it was renamed for Gaston Berger, an important French-Senegalese philosopher, on December 4, 1996.The university was named in honor of French-Senegalese philosopher Gaston Berger, who was born in Saint-Louis and was the father of Maurice Béjart.The school's primary architectural fixture is the central library's tower, which is visible from national road N2, stretching from Richard-Toll to the Mauritanian border.The academic year spans a ten-month period between October and July, but the start and end of classes varies by department.Housing costs have been rising modestly but are supplemented by financial aid from the government and, typically, by funds provided by students' parents.