The Oral Roberts University Scandal from Students' Perspectives

By now, the recently publicized scandal involving Oral Roberts University and its president, Richard Roberts and his family, has made its way into news sources around the country.

Briefly, the scandal involves several recently fired professors accusing ORU of illegal political maneuvering (in violation of its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status) and attempts to cover up a document which supposedly demonstrates proof of a huge number of other serious abuses of financial assets, some illegal activities, and potential sexual misconduct - all perpetrated by Richard Roberts, his wife, Lindsay Roberts, and members of their family. For more in-depth information, you can read my other article on the subject.

But what do students or alumni of Oral Roberts University think about this? Because the situation has occurred in a very conservative religious community, we can expect any number of emotional pleas for innocence and raging tempers of defiance in response. Surprisingly, many ORU students have voiced quite the opposite.

Personally, I have experienced several aspects of the allegations first hand. I attended ORU for four years and graduated in the spring of 2005. During my entire time as a student, there was a campus-wide feeling of fear to confront the Roberts about any concerns or disagreements about the ethical or doctrinal nature of their actions or teachings. It was widely understood that when a student or faculty member openly voiced any disagreements with any aspect of the Richards' management or teaching directly to any high-ranking administrator, the person who disagreed was expelled or fired. For that reason, disagreements were either quietly murmured in very private settings among people one could closely trust or they were completely silenced altogether.

Nonetheless, abuses of assets or actions of questionable moral nature seemed to be frequently flaunted by the Roberts. I remember casually speaking with employees of the athletic department when I went there to work out one day. They told me (in the course of the day's events) how they transported ORU gym equipment to the Roberts' private gym in their mansion complex, all while on the clock for the ORU payroll. They described the lavish set of extraordinarily-sized houses that the Roberts had at their disposal, as well as the private stables on their grounds. This conversation took place years ago, but they're all allegations in the surfaced document that led to the firing of the three professors.

I remember one chapel service (they meet bi-weekly and are mandatory attendance for the entire faculty and student body) when Richard Roberts personally introduced Randi Miller on stage and told everyone to vote for her. Regardless of his commands to the government department (filtered through Dr. T Brooker) to run Randi Miller's mayoral campaign, he violated the University's 501(c)(3) status in front of over 4,000 spectators by publicly endorsing a political candidate. This violation is also an allegation in the lawsuit and protesting it is also what led to the termination of the three professors.

I remember Richard Roberts' relentless fundraising efforts, including asking for more money from the student body even though each student had already paid over $20,000 each year for tuition, etc. I remember having a friend who really believed that God was telling him he should be a student at ORU even though he couldn't get enough loans or scholarships to pay for it. He told the Roberts his story (after a mandatory class that they taught) and asked if they knew of anything that could help him pay for school.

They told him "no" and prayed for someone to give him money, though they themselves could've paid for all four years of college for more than 5 students in his situation with only the salary that Richard receives each year. That's not including any inappropriate expenses of the school's money that the lawsuit alleges the Roberts family has spent on themselves, though if the allegations about Lindsay's wardrobe are true, the money spent on clothes would've lasted my friend two or three years at ORU.

I remember when Richard's oldest daughter, Jordan, by his second wife (Lindsay) first started at Oral Roberts University. She moved on campus (a very short distance from her family's mansion complex), displacing many previous residents in the dormitory wing that she took over. To 'accommodate' their daughter, Richard and Lindsay had the wing she moved into completely remodeled and made available only through private request by their daughter. Part of the remodeling efforts included breaking out one of the walls in her room in order to annex the next room down and make her room double the regular size.

This was all done at the University's expense and I learned of it through an ORU employee who helped do the remodeling work the summer before Jordan arrived and from female students who were removed from the rooms they had previously occupied. This incident is also an allegation reported in the lawsuit.

Those are just some of the incidents which stand out most in my experiences as a student at Oral Roberts University. But one thing that somewhat surprised me was the overwhelming response by other ORU alumni and students attesting to similar experiences. Here are some of their responses since this most recent scandal became public.

"The allegations are pretty impressive. I'm pretty sure they're true." - Current ORU student, Undergrad English

"Is anyone NOT surprized this happened? ...All respect I had for the school is gone." - ORU Alumni, '06 Undergrad Business

"I am a ORU alumni and a past nanny for the Roberts during my time at ORU. I know for a FACT the things I witnessed and experienced first-hand line up with the things that are FINALLY surfacing. All I can say is, "It is about d**n time!!" It is no lie that Lyndsey is a shop-aholic...and Richard for that matter. I almost lost my faith due to what I saw them live and what I saw them preach... They and people like them give God a bad rap!" - ORU Alumni

"I feel about as validated as a conspiracy theorist can be. And about as disappointed." - ORU Alumni, '06 Undergrad Mathematics

"I spent four years as a student and two years as an employee at ORU and I have a deep love of and devotion to the mission of the university. However, anyone not blinded by the charismatic celebrity of the Roberts knows they have abused their power and unfortunately the board of regents and administration have let it happen. I would hold them responsible too, but anyone who speaks against the Roberts loses their job." - ORU Alumni and Former Employee

"I think this is fantastic. It has needed to happen. Corruption is corruption and ought to be brought into the light--whoever is involved." - ORU Alumni, '05 Undergrad Government

"It is all absolutely true... the cars, privileges to their daughter's friends, floormates, etc. I'm not AT ALL surprised by any of it. I'm not being hateful when I say this so don't misinterpret, but I hope they are "corrected" for their mishandling of my tuition money" - former ORU student

"As an ORU graduate I would like to say that I very much appreciate the education that I received from ORU. It was a great experience. My wife, who is also an ORU grad, work at ORU as a Financial Aide Counselor while I attended school at ORU. The part about Lindsay giving full scholarships to her daughter's friends is true. I know this because my wife was the Financial Aide Counselor who handle a few of those students accounts. One of the girls was the daughter of the Praise & Worship leader at the church we attended at the time. This was a mega church and this girls father made a very good salary, and could afford to pay for his daughter's college expenses. However, since she went to school with Jordan Roberts and was part of a singing group with her, Lindsay arranged for her to get a free ride to ORU. My wife handle her financial aide account. I knew also about the dorm remodeling that was done for the Roberts daughter(s) also... I don't want to see ORU go down, but I do think that the gross mishandling of university funds needs to be addressed, and, if guilty, the Roberts need to step down from their leadership role at ORU." - ORU Alumni

"While this is breaking news to some, its old news to others." - ORU Alumni

"I am also a current student at ORU who is not at all surprised by these allegations. These things have been known for years. The favoritism shown to those who are personal friends of the Roberts is sickening in comparison to the giant hammer of discipline slammed down on other students... I love the students and the faculty. I am however sickened by the way MY university is ran... The fact of the matter of all of this is that there needs to be change." - Current ORU Student

"As ORU '05 Alumni this law suite does not surprise me, the money the lies, whats new. Don't you guys remember Richard asking ORU students to give money to the new student center, which was suppose to be built by 2005. Where did all that money go?" - ORU Alumni, '05

"I really want the school to survive this. That's why I think the Roberts' association with the university needs to be terminated pending an investigation. The problem with that is the ministry and the school are almost undifferentiable." - ORU Alumni

"As a recent alum of ORU, I would like to attempt to separate the school from the administration. Attending Oral Roberts University was a positive experience overall, opening many doors for life-changing experiences and friendships. I would hate to see the reputation of the school suffer due to poor choices on the part of the President. That stated, however, I admit that throughout my years at ORU I felt Richard and Lindsey Roberts blatantly flaunted their lack of accountability on many levels and displayed themselves as poor stewards of a Godly university. Financially speaking, it's no secret that they live a lifestyle of luxury and wealth, no doubt procured from the ministry (and my tuition money!)... As students, we were infused with the Biblical principle of reaping and sowing. That line was carted out many times to influence us to give financially. But, in this instance, I truly do hope Richard and Lindsey Roberts reap what they've sown. I'm glad to see that their time to be held accountable has finally come." - ORU Alumni

Almost all personal statements by current and former ORU students and employees state that they have some personal knowledge of at least some of the allegations in the lawsuit. I guess this shouldn't come as a surprise considering the flagrant violation of ORU's 501(c)(3) status when Richard Roberts publicly endorsed a political candidate at a mandatory student assembly with over 4,000 in attendance. Interestingly, all the statements I've read in defense of the Roberts family didn't draw on any particular personal experience or knowledge of facts to support their defense; instead they were simply a compilation of Bible verses, usually intended to promote the idea of the Roberts' unquestionable authority.

With all this incriminating shared knowledge by anyone who's been involved with Oral Roberts University, what does that leave for Richard Roberts to say about it? Here are some of his responses:

The first statement issued by the University: "It is important for ORU students and their families, faculty and staff, alumni, partners as well as the general public to understand that this lawsuit is largely premised upon a compilation of incomplete statements, unsubstantiated rumors and innuendos. ORU will address these allegations through the legal process."

The day afterwards (at ORU's mandatory chapel service), Richard Roberts had this to say: "The Lord spoke to me and said get up... and start writing and I will flow through your hand... Here's what he told me to say to you. 'We live in a litigous society. Anyone can get mad and file a lawsuit against another person whether they have a legitimate case or not. This lawsuit, which was filed yesterday... is not about wrongful termination. It is about intimidation, blackmail and extortion. Make no mistake about it, this suit is about money, as most suits are... Students I wish that I could tell you what I know. I am bursting to tell somebody what I know. But, I have been advised by our attorneys not to do that at this time... I am confident that when the real truth is known, there will be no more questions. And my friends, students, faculty, staff and administration, that's all I have to say."

Next, Richard Roberts released what might've been the most specific statement he's ever made about the school's finances, including some emergency auditing: "Any expenses, including trips, errands, food, etc., deemed personal are charged back to me and are paid personally by me on a monthly basis... Today, the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents met to authorize the implementation of yet another level of review and compliance through the retention of an additional independent outside auditing firm."

Finally, Richard and Lindsay Roberts appeared on Larry King Live last night to publicly address these allegations for the first time. Here are a few quotes from their interview:

First, Richard says, "we don't ever endorse a candidate as a university." A couple questions later, he says, "And we've had a longstanding policy of supporting candidates all across the country and helping them with their races." About the professors' termination he says, "One was terminated, one's contract was not renewed and one resigned." Larry King asks, "But having nothing to do with this?" to which Richard responds, "I don't think so. No."

About the lawsuit in general, he says, "Well, Larry, I'm not exactly sure what to make of it. It's the most unusual thing I've ever witnessed in my life." After Larry King asks them about some of the specific allegations, Richard and Lindsay give some interesting responses to each one, admitting the bare facts and defending each by explaining their particular circumstances. They also admit, though slightly fumbling their speech, that they knew years ago about the document Stephanie Cantese prepared, which is also the source of the majority of these allegations and the reason the professors say they were fired.

One ORU alumni's e-mail was presented to the Roberts: "Danny in Tulsa: 'I'm an ORU alumnus. Why do the majority of ORU students and alumni appear to be grieved, but not surprised, by these allegations? Does it concern you that your excesses are so obvious that most people don't appear to be shocked to hear of them?'"

Richard Roberts simply replied: "Larry, all I know to do is -- is -- and you're talking about the appearance of evil -- avoiding the appearance of evil. All I know is to do exactly as I'm directed by the board of regents. Everything that I do as a president of the university is heavily scrutinized by the audit and compliance committee of the board of regents."

Larry King asks him, "So what you're saying is you have never, to your knowledge, done anything wrong, improperly..." Richard sums it up with "I have not. I have not done anything wrong, Larry."

Oral Roberts even calls in, and though hard of hearing, he says that they've been through experiences like this in the past and he's not surprised. The full transcript can be read on CNN's website.

Apparently, Richard and Lindsay Roberts are entirely defending themselves from any wrongdoing in this situation. They haven't denied all the facts (though they've denied some), but they say that their use of ORU funds and employees or the text messages to underage males are defended by the circumstances involved. In regards to the political accusations, Richard completely denies any involvement - contrary to the experience of myself and many other ORU students who were there when he brought Randi Miller on stage and told us to vote for her.

The final truth is not out. There are so many allegations contained in the lawsuit that it should be assumed they'll never all be investigated and proved one way or the other. But with the overwhelming response by those ORU students and employees who've experienced the Roberts firsthand and who subsequently confirm the truth behind many of the allegations, it's hard to see how Richard Roberts will work his way out of it, or if he can. This may really be the time for change that many ORU supporters are asking for... if ORU can survive the scandal.

(Many of these statements came in response to Tulsa World's initial article covering the lawsuit. Others were in response to other articles on public websites.)