d, Alabama (10/12/2007 7:05:07 PM)

Oh man, this is so bad.

I really believed that the text messages to an underage male probably came from one of the daughters, not her.

And who? pray tell was taking those pictures?

yikes

Barbara, Houston, TX (10/12/2007 7:28:17 PM)

This is really bad! However, every single one of those salactious allegations could turn out to be false, and yet Richard Roberts brought it on himself by firing someone just for giving the report to the Provost and Regents to investigate. He should have stepped off his man-made throne and allowed an investigation, and if/when the allegations were all proved to be false, he could have "suggested" to the professors that "they might be happier elsewhere," and they surely would have taken the hint.

But when you go off on a power-hungry rage, this is what happens!

Berean, Houston (10/12/2007 7:41:12 PM)

Nowhere in the Bible does the Lord guarantee that those doing His Work should get a tax-exempt status. According to this article, hundreds of tax-exempt ministries may now come under closer scrutiny by just about every kind of authority there is: IRS, state, local police, etc. And those that are found wanting shall be destroyed, only the true shall remain.

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN

Former ORU Slave, Tulsa (10/12/2007 7:48:47 PM)

WOW!!! No big surprise. I worked at ORU and was disgusted from day 1. On my very first day, I saw the youngest Roberts daughter, Chloe, driving a Lexus SUV, when she was 16 years old!!! And Lyndsey driving a little red german sports car!!! And Tricky Dick with his entourage of cronies!!! Showing up at athletic events like he was the "King of the castle".

Richard Roberts is no more a holy-man, than I am the president of the United States. He's a preacher's kid (if you can even consider his daddy a preacher & not a crook/quack), that noticed that evangelism was where the money was. PERIOD!!! He was lazy & arrogant, and saw the way to make an easy buck. Riding daddy's coat-tails has brought him riches beyond most people's belief. And, now, his arrogance has brought about his undoing.

This whole debacle can be explained a very simple way. He & his (explicitive deleted) family thought they were above earthly & divine laws. And the idiots that have put up with their nonsense for so long should be ashamed of themselves. They've allowed this to happen. Just like they allow unqualified people to work in positions of power/stature at the university. Did you know that their hiring practice gives preference to ORU grads? Not really unheard of, but consider this. There are more than a dozen "professors" or "instructors" or "administrators" that have no higher than a bachelors degree. And that degree came from ORU. Not to mention that there are employees in one department that don't have so much as a bachelors degree, but are now in administrative positions, b/c "they've worked for the school for years, paid their dues, and deserve to be in charge." YEAH!!! In that same department, they've employeed someone for the better part of 40 years, and that person has never had to stay current with the guidelines or standards for their profession!!! It's a joke!

Q, (10/12/2007 7:51:02 PM)

Well, if all this is true, Dr. Swails and the other plaintiffs should be commended for going through all this to bring it to light. If it turns out to be false, or RR and LR somehow use their law team to get out of it, Dr. Swails and the other professors will be castigated. It's just a big mess at this point. Hopefully, a fair judge and jury will oversee all this.

Carl Robbins, San Joes (10/12/2007 8:04:26 PM)

THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG -- MORE TO COME

ORU is fast becoming the religious 'ENRON" in the eyes of most Americans. This amended suit -- and the unsavory details -- only hardens that view in the minds of Americans.

As at ENRON, the corruption and wrong-doing is at the top -- and some may wind up where others went for financial misdealings.

But the ones who will really suffer are those branded with the ORU/ENRON label. This may seem small in the small unreal world of evangelical/charismatics, but I can assure you when you go out into the real world, anything ---resume or degree-- with the Oral Roberts nameme on it will be scoffed at.

Now might be the time to disassociate yourselves from he ORU/ENRON debacle --- or be tarred with it.

Just my opinion of course, but I've seen how these things have played out.

You think this news was bad. Wait for more. it will come.

alum, former student worker, tulsa (10/12/2007 8:10:40 PM)

I cleaned, washed, waxed and refueled the "family" cars. I received no token payment from Richard. The cars were always filthy, drink spills, food was thrown all over inside the vehicle.

Scott, Tulsa (10/12/2007 8:13:33 PM)

Where is Stephanie Cantees, the author of the original report? When is she going to come forward and say whether the report was simply rumors that she collected, or facts that she can substantiate? Why hasn't Stephanie Cantees spoken up?

cindy, (10/12/2007 8:19:12 PM)

I believe that somehow God's grace will allow this university to survive. But if it falls, what happens to the alumni's diplomas. They are still good right? Just probably looked down upon.

Q, (10/12/2007 8:25:17 PM)

#8, Stephanie Cantees is the sister-in-law of Richard Roberts. She most likely will not say anything until she's forced to testify in a court of law.

FL ORU Alum, (10/12/2007 8:27:23 PM)

These allegations, even if true, are irrelevant to the plaintiffs' breach of contract cause of action. I believe they're hoping to try this case in the court of public opinion; thus, they release more and more outrageous scandalous tidbits about ORU. As an ORU alum, I am well aware that the Roberts' lifestyle was extravagant - much more than I thought appropriate, certainly. However, has anyone looked at what other college and university presidents and their families receive? Even at state (taxpayer-supported) schools, the mansions, free cars, fat expense accounts and the like for the presidents are the rule, NOT the exception. ORU isn't unique. It isn't even the worst, not by a long shot. I'm not excusing anything, but that's the way it is. It's a shame, especially when parents have to pay so much for their kids' tuition.

FL ORU Alum, (10/12/2007 8:31:32 PM)

As an alum, I don't worry that my ORU degree has been devalued one bit by this lawsuit. I was taught by qualified professors (none of the plaintiffs; I predate them) and earned a B.A. from an accredited university. Mrs. Robert's big clothes closet or the daughter's Lexus have no effect on that.

wilson, (10/12/2007 8:41:41 PM)

I know a lot of people (like you "former ORU slave") want to see the Roberts fall, but consider that there are thousands of good people who are either students or employees of ORU. It's very sad for them to have to deal with all of this.

Carl Robbins, San Jose (10/12/2007 8:44:17 PM)

Cindy --- post # 9 -- read my comment in post #6.

The small-world of like minds -- the evangelical bubble -- has insulated you from the way the "real" world -- see this shameful debacle. Don't kids yourselves. ORE is held in growing contempt in much of he "real" world. You may realize this only when you go out into that world with your resume or degree.

It's sad you, other students and alumni will bear this stigma. Closing ORU is not the tragedy. The impact on lives is.

Guillotine, (10/12/2007 8:45:16 PM)

#7: Hey, "alum, former student worker", I nominate you, citizen, to pull the lever on the leaders of the ancien régime! Vive la révolution!

wilson, tulsa (10/12/2007 9:02:41 PM)

Carl, #14, are you the arbiter of the "real world"? I'm curious why someone from San Jose would take such an interest in a small school like ORU. Do you have an axe to grind with "the evangelical bubble"? I would suggest that San Jose (I'm assuming California) is nothing like the "real world" of the midwest.

Susan, Franklin, Tenn. (10/12/2007 9:12:17 PM)

this is sad

amber, tulsa (10/12/2007 9:15:22 PM)

The midwest is the real world? Most people here cannot even find Iraq on a map!

formerorustudent, (10/12/2007 9:18:16 PM)

If the Roberts fall, it doesn't mean ORU will. I'm sorry, but the Roberts don't make ORU what it is... as you can see it is great despite them, definitely not because of them. Like Billy Joe said in chapel, ORU is God's university and its mission to go into every man's world is still a good thing that will survive even in light of this leadership corruption. No man is above the law, hopefully ORU will acquire honest and trust worthy leaders. Right now, we need the current "leaders" to show some humility and step down.

Guillotine, (10/12/2007 9:45:52 PM)

What this calls for is a six pack, some Bourbon and a couple of call girls!

What a hoot!, Tulsa (10/12/2007 9:59:37 PM)

Could this get any better...wheweeeeeeeee!

Hadn't had so much fun since the pigs ate my little sister!

(keep 'em coming #21)

Reaped & Sewed, Tulsa (10/12/2007 10:05:27 PM)

Yup...somebody is gonna get REAPED! big time in this deal. And sew it is.

nanny, Tulsa (10/12/2007 10:06:17 PM)

18. 10/12/2007 9:15:22 PM, amber, tulsa

The midwest is the real world? Most people here cannot even find Iraq on a map!

Most people in Tulsa can.

Great Balls a Fire, Tulsa (10/12/2007 10:07:02 PM)

Where is JERRY LEE LEWIS when we need him?

G, (10/12/2007 10:07:05 PM)

I don't see the "expanded" lawsuit as much different than the last one, other than to make it more "sensational", or try to have it appear "dicier". I also think that the 3 filing the suit don't really want to go to a trial, because they will also be examined as to how allegations were discovered, if there was any "doctoring" of any of the evidence, etc. It's pretty easy to alter writings on a computer document, etc.

It's also easy to "create" pictures or present them to look very incriminating. I realize this would be hard on the school as well as the Roberts, but I really want to see this go to trial, even though it's usually not the best way to handle things. However, it would need to be in front of a judge & jury that understands ethics, without favoring either side. Some accusations may be true, some not, but it's important to get a clearer picture. For example, what is the definition of daughter's "friends", etc? In a school like Victory, everybody in a class knows everybody. The most illogical thing that I see as I read comments is, how many are that interested, when they aren't even believers in any kind of morality at all, so why would they care if someone else is or isn't? (That was just a side comment.) In any case, it's time for a trial to be scheduled, imo. I still question what kind of "professors", or even a ligitimate ethical attorney would head for the press, before the accused even see the accusations, especially with rushed, sloppy papers like these? Very bizarre, & I think it's time for Richardson to be checked out by the Bar Association regarding his methods & tactics.