Lariviere became president of the state's flagship university on July 1, 2009, replacing Dave Frohnmayer. He came from the University of Kansas, where he was provost, and brought a brainy (he has a doctorate in Sanskrit from University of Pennsylvania) and sharp-elbowed style that was refreshing to some, and offensive to others. He gave substantial raises to U of O faculty in the teeth of the recession, spoke provocatively for a college president (comparing college athletics to Lady Gaga) and, in his most controversial move, shopped an idea to have the the state sell $1 billion in bonds, which U of O would then match with private fundraising.

