Out of Ofce

All that Glitters

THIS FALL, UNIVERSITY of Oklahoma President Joe Harroz welcomed the largest freshman class in the school’s 132-year history, more than a quarter who are frst-generation college students. Harroz himself is a second-generation OU grad, following his father who graduated from OU’s medical school and was the frst in his family to attend college. And now, his son is at OU as well as a student, making the third generation to call OU home. Harroz has plenty of mementos of his family throughout his ofce, historic items dating back to OU’s very frst president and one extremely glitzy present from OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione.

Above: Harroz’ desk inside his office in Evans Hall, which has burned down three times in its century-plus history but serving as each president’s office. “I am but a temporary occupant of this office,” Harroz said. Far Right: Castiglione gifted the OU helmet adorned entirely in Swarovski crystals to Harroz shortly after he became president. The helmet sits on top of a 360-degree rotating base with eight lights illuminating the helmet from all angles. Right: Regents Professor of Economics Alexander Holmes and OU graduate Josh Woodward crafted the grandfather clock’s case out of wood from the Pe-Et Elm tree planted by David Ross Boyd, which stood in front of Evans Hall for a century. The clock is 100 inches tall, one inch for each year the tree stood in front of the building that holds the president’s office.