Sept. 13, 2007
A special ribbon cutting ceremony featuring University of South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier and head men’s basketball coach Dave Odom, unveiled the newly renovated Athletics Academic Center at the Thomas Cooper Library today.
“The opening of the academic enrichment center marks an ongoing and fruitful partnership between the Thomas Cooper Library and athletics – one that we are confident will grow even stronger in the future,” said Mark P. Becker, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. “Nationwide, college students have rediscovered the benefits of studying at the library, and that trend is manifest in the student utilization of the libraries here at the University of South Carolina. This center, with its state-of-the-art computer lab and study space, will serve as a wonderful venue for our student-athletes to take a team approach to learning as they pursue their respective university degrees.”
The ribbon cutting ceremony represents a cooperative effort between the Library and the Athletics Department. In conjunction with Thomas Cooper, University of South Carolina Athletics funded $250,000 to renovate space in the library to be used primarily in the evenings as an academic area for football and men’s basketball until the new Academic Enrichment Center is operational in the fall of 2009. Other student-athletes are also encouraged to utilize the area during the day for study hall and tutoring sessions. The Athletics Academic Center at Thomas Cooper has a computer lab, tutorial space and a large multi-purpose room.
“We are pleased to be able to work with and contribute to our University library,” said Coach Spurrier. “Our student-athletes will have a nice and convenient place to use for tutoring and study halls. Our contribution will make a lasting positive improvement to the library and we look forward to having our own academic learning center in the near future.”
“Having the academic center located in the newly renovated Thomas Cooper Library was welcomed and greatly appreciated by our basketball team and staff,” said Coach Odom. “The transition from the Roost Academic Center to Cooper Library is a visible sign to all that academic success for our athletes is our top priority. We greatly appreciate the work done by Athletics Director Eric Hyman and Dean Thomas McNally who helped make it a reality.”
