EDITORIAL: Oakland University receives gift for carillon tower

Thanks to the generosity of R. Hugh Elliott and his wife, Nancy, Oakland University will have a 151-foot, 49-bell carillon tower by September 2014 as a centerpiece on the campus,

Elliott -- the president and CEO of Elliott Group International in Auburn Hills -- and his wife, who live in Rochester, have been supporters of Oakland University since the early 1990s.

They gave OU $6.5 million for construction of the Elliott Carillon Tower, which will be complemented by a water fountain, garden and landscaping. It is intended to be a focal point of campus activities.

The Elliotts will provide guidance on the tower?s planning and design. They also are donating a cash charitable contribution equal to 10 percent of the total design and construction costs to establish an endowment for operations, maintenance and technology, according to trustee documents.

?The bell tower will forever be a symbol for Oakland University students to follow their dreams,? Vice Chairman Richard Flynn said after the OU Board of Trustees met Dec. 21 to accept the gift.

?When you get to a certain age, you start thinking about things,? said Elliott. ?Nancy and I are in our 60s now and getting involved with Oakland has really brought joy into our lives and a youth back to us.?

OU President Gary Russi thanked the Elliotts in an email for their support.

?I am very pleased to announce that longtime and esteemed friends, Hugh and Nancy Elliott, have once again demonstrated their deep commitment to the success of Oakland University with a remarkable act of generosity,? he wrote.

?This will enable Oakland University to join the ranks of prestigious universities across the globe that have honored a centuries-old tradition of constructing a carillon tower on campus.?

Members of the student body also are grateful for the Elliotts? generosity. Continued...

Student Jessica Drogowski said the clock tower will be a ?source of pride and excitement for all who are a part of Oakland University.?

OU has grown to have nearly 20,000 students a year since it opened in 1957.

This latest gift from the Elliotts, following an earlier $2 million gift toward the advancement of the School of Business Administration, is making OU an even more outstanding place of learning in the present as well as the future. The Elliotts? generosity will help this area because most graduates end up living and working here.

Source: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/01/11/opinion/doc50ef0342b1c73096016747.txt

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