Library Named For New Market Man
Friday, January 24, 2007
By Doug Hunt
Taken from journalreview.com

EVANSVILLE - It will be hard for students not to remember the influence of a former New Market man when they enter their new library at the University of Southern Indiana (USI).The $27.5 million structure was named after David L. Rice."The David L. Rice Library opened last summer and is a great addition to the campus," said Kathy W. Funke, USI news and information service director. Rice served as the university's first president in 1967 when USI was known as Indiana State University-Evansville. The university name was changed in 1985 to University of Southern Indiana. Rice retired in 1994.

"The designation continues the popular USI board of trustees decision in 1992 to name the original library for Rice to recognize the positive development of the campus during his 27 years of leadership," Funke said. The five-story library and its environment "prompts reading, study and research in a focal point among USI structures," Funke said. "There is also needed space in the lower level for classes, which includes 16 classrooms."

The building encloses 155,000 square feet. In addition to the 16 classrooms and auditorium, 70 percent of the structure is designated for library space.Rice was committed to education and went to Evansville from Ball State University, armed with data from a study about the low college participation in Southwest Indiana. He was determined to make sure a public university in this part of the state could provide higher education at a cost more people could afford. "I think it is an awesome building," Rice said. "It is a distinct honor for it to have been named after me. I was fortunate to be a quarterback for a great team."

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony in July 2006, USI President H. Ray Hoops said the building "will change the way people view USI. The new Rice Library is a transforming building for the campus." The library is a wireless building with an open, colorful interior, group-study rooms, a periodicals reading room, and private reading and study areas, including a two-story grand reading room with ambient light from a wall of windows, Funke said. Computers and printers are situated on all floors and laptop computers are available for students at checkout."

It is a popular place on campus for faculty and students," Funke said. From June to the end of 2006, the library was open 170 days for an average count of 1,022 patrons daily.A public corridor, with open seating at the north end, extends across the width of the building. On the south end is the first Starbucks coffee shop on campus, operated by the University's food services. The corridor permits access to the coffee shop and commons without entering the secure library area.

A limestone relief placed 30 feet high on the front rotunda is the work of Kathryn Waters, USI professor of art, and John McNaughton, professor emeritus of art. "The limestone panel reflects the view looking out a library window," Funke said. Dorothea J. Schlechte, an Evansville resident and long-time arts supporter, is the donor. Woolen, Molzan and Partners, Indianapolis, and Edmund L. Hafer and Associates, Evansville, are the architects. Deig Brothers Lumber and Construction, Evansville, is general contractor.

Rice's wife is Betty, formerly of Russellville. The couple taught in Fountain County schools prior to entering collegiate appointments. They are Purdue University graduates. During high school, Rice seemed destined to become a college professor. His teacher took an interest in 12 students. The deal the teacher made was if the students gave up their lunch hours, the teacher would offer another course not currently in the curriculum. Rice was offered courses in business law, trigonometry, physics and other related courses. Five students in this group became college professors.

Rice began teaching junior high students at Wallace, while pursuing advanced degrees at Purdue. Later, he had faculty and administrative positions at Ball State, including a stint at Washington, D.C., as a research coordinator in the Bureau of Research of the U.S. Office of Education. While on leave in 1966 from Ball State, Rice served as vice president of the Cooperative Education Research Laboratory at Indianapolis and Chicago. During a tour of the facility by family members, which was led by Rice's wife, granddaughter Anna Rice, a third-grader, remarked, "That's grandpa," when the girl saw the name on the rotunda. Elizabeth Courtney Randolph. Photography Services, University of Southern Indiana, and Kathy W. Funke, director, news and information services at the University of Southern Indiana, contributed to this story.