Physicist Stephen Hawking stepped down yesterday as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University after 30 years in the post.

The roughly 350-year-old position has been held by such luminaries as Isaac Newton and Charles Babbage, one of the fathers of modern computing. It is customary for professors to retire from the post the year they turn 67.

Hawking, who reached that age in January, will continue to work at the university as research director in a department dealing with applied mathematics and theoretical physics.

WYCLEF JEAN BOOTS UP TO BENEFIT HAITI

Wyclef Jean and The Timberland Co. are teaming up to sell eco-friendly footwear and support reforestation of the singer's native Haiti.

Jean, who achieved fame with The Fugees before going solo, collaborated with the New Hampshire-based footwear and apparel company on a 16-boot collection going on sale in November. Timberland also will sell T-shirts designed by Haitian children, and a new line of organic shirts and hats will be sold at Jean's concerts, with a cut of the profits going to Jean's Yele Haiti foundation.

PALIN A BEST-SELLER BEFORE BOOK'S DEBUT

Sarah Palin finished her book quickly and became a best-seller even faster.

Just two days after the release of Palin's memoir, "Going Rogue" was moved up from the spring to Nov. 17, preorders for the former Alaska governor's book yesterday hit No. 1 at www.BarnesandNoble.com and No. 2 at Amazon.com, trailing only Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol."

Palin, in collaboration with author Lynn Vincent, completed her 400-page book just four months after agreeing to terms with HarperCollins.

DENNIS HOPPER ILL, CANCELS INTERVIEWS

Dennis Hopper, in New York to publicize his TV series "Crash," was taken to a hospital yesterday afternoon after complaining of flu-like stomach ailments.

The 73-year-old star of "Easy Rider" and "Blue Velvet" had to cancel a number of interviews and TV appearances, including guest spots on "Today" and "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" (where he was replaced by Jack McBrayer of "30 Rock").

"Crash," on the Starz network, is a TV version of the Oscar-winning 2004 film. Hopper plays a maniacal music producer.

'WEST SIDE' FEELS PRETTY AT BOX OFFICE

"West Side Story" has danced into the financial hit column.

Its producers say the current Broadway revival has recouped its $14 million investment in less than eight months. The production at the Palace Theatre is directed by Arthur Laurents — who wrote the book for the musical, which originally opened on Broadway in 1957.