Months of turmoil have not caused students to flee from Oral Roberts University.

Enrollment this spring dropped by 84 students from the fall, according to ORU. Similarly, the college lost 74 students between fall 2006 and spring 2007. Students who graduated in December are partly to blame for the declines, and colleges every where lose students between semesters.

This spring's enrollment also is on par with last spring's. ORU has 3,082 full- and part-time, graduate and undergraduate, for-credit students now, which is 27 fewer students than a year ago, according to ORU. That is a drop of less than 1 percent.

"This is a very encouraging number considering what ORU has endured this past fall," Interim President Ralph Fagin said in a press release. "It speaks volumes to the character of the students and fortitude of the faculty and staff to keep stability through the storm."

Since October, three former professors sued the school and its leaders, President Richard Roberts resigned, ORU revealed it was $52.5 million in debt, an Oklahoma family offered ORU $70 million, and a new governing board has been appointed to take over leadership of the college.

ORU's $17,000 annual tuition was too expensive, she said, and she felt looked down upon for not agreeing with all of ORU's religious teachings.

"I'm a lot happier" having left ORU, Herrin said.

Paul Plushko, a junior, left ORU after one semester for reasons unrelated to the changes. He had been struggling academically, and he did not have a scholarship for his senior year. Mostly though, he had prayed and felt like he should go to Rogers State University, he said.

ORU is "a blessed place," said Plushko, whose brother and sister attend ORU.

Twyla Reimer, a freshman, said she decided when the uproar on campus began that she would trust God.

"If I was to lean on my own knowledge, it wouldn't have looked good several months ago," she said. Now, "there are so many good things that have come out of it."

April Marciszewski 581-8475
april.marciszewski@tulsaworld.com