Tulsa World: Strength emerges from scandal

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Saturday, November 21, 2009 | WIRELESS

Home > News > Article

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Strength emerges from scandal

ORU senior Karen Gaskill says she thinks the university is moving forward and that the recent turmoil will help the school grow. STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World

By APRIL MARCISZEWSKI World Staff Writer
Published: 5/3/2008 1:09 AM
Last Modified: 8/18/2008 11:47 AM

Complete Coverage: Read the latest ORU stories, view the lawsuit and other documents and watch slide shows and video.

Departing collegians say recent challenges helped foster a new spirit of unity and openness at ORU.

In the heat of scandal at Oral Roberts University last fall, Myron Randall wondered whether he would be able to graduate from the college he had attended for 4-1/2 years.

He wondered whether ORU would be reaccredited -- it was, with the provision of a follow-up visit -- and whether it would survive the onslaught of accusations that former professors made in a lawsuit.

Despite continuing money and enrollment concerns, ORU is hanging on.

"We watched a major transition happen" in a matter of months, Randall said.

President Richard Roberts resigned, ORU received a $70 million donation to help pull it out of debt, and the university adopted a principle of shared power among faculty members, administrators and trustees.

Randall and other seniors will graduate Saturday in commencement exercises at the ORU Mabee Center.

Graduating seniors on campus this week said they finally feel like university officials are listening to them

and using their input to help shape ORU's plans.

Miranda Kelley said she thinks the upheaval brought students together and "made us more willing to talk about things."

Students did not have a place where women and men could hang out and where they could eat, Kelley said.

They spoke up, and now they are allowed to take food into a coed lounge.

Randall said he thinks students are able to bring up dissenting viewpoints in discussions on campus, such as about theology and ORU's spending.

Karen Gaskill said any organization has to grow or else it becomes stagnant.

Tim Bickers reflected on the controversy-filled fall semester and said, "Things came out, but I think things needed to come out."

The students look at ORU and see a university on the upswing.

Michael Johnson advised new students to attend ORU -- "if this is really the place that they're supposed to be."

Cornell Cross sued ORU last fall for allegedly devaluing his degree, but he stayed on to finish his degree this semester. He doesn't recommend that students go to ORU, however.

"As much as things have changed, nothing has changed," Cross said. "There's still this oppressive air about the place."

Roberts left the university, but other personnel remain the same, he pointed out.

Cross still sees power plays and a "culture of fear," although he said not everyone on campus would agree.

Caleb Green, a senior from Indiana, quickly gave a glowing review when asked about the state of the university, saying he thinks most students and alumni have a positive outlook.

He reconsidered how widespread that view is and came to the same conclusion, noting that at least a few people in any situation would focus on the negative.

Many students -- Cross included -- said they love ORU, often for reasons that could be cited at any college, such as dorm neighbors who become like siblings and professors who work hard to challenge them and prepare them for the real world.

"I've been offered so many opportunities" at ORU, Johnson said, "and it brought out . . . stuff that I didn't even know that I could do."

Bickers advised new students to come to ORU expecting to change and grow.

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

By APRIL MARCISZEWSKI World Staff Writer

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Reader Comments

Show: Most Recent Comment First

Add your comment

35 comments have been made on this story so far. Tell us what you think below!

Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. -- Web Editor Jason Collington

	Report Comment Fifty Dollar Fine, (5/3/2008 1:21:01 AM) " Randall and other seniors will graduate Saturday in commencement exercises at the ORU Mabee Center. " One born every millisecond.
	Report Comment new start, (5/3/2008 1:35:13 AM) Best wishes to the ORU students!!!! It is sad the university had to go thru the turmoil all because of the failure and sins of richard and lindesy roberts.
	Report Comment DUH, (5/3/2008 7:01:36 AM) #1: You ought to know.
	Report Comment Willy, Tulsa (5/3/2008 7:42:32 AM) This happy-talk story is an odd contrast to the recent AP report that enrollment for next fall will decrease by 13%, mainly due to lack of applications.
	Report Comment Restoration, (5/3/2008 8:11:15 AM) We pray for a mighty restoration for ORU. We pray for everyone that leaves, God will bring in 7 more of faith and vision who are not moved by circumstances, and that He will bless them with a degree they can be proud of and they will be beacons of God's love and light in their generation. Let the mockers do their mocking. It is just who they are, but thank God in every situation we are more than conquerors. Keep the faith ORU.
	Report Comment No Weapon, (5/3/2008 8:40:54 AM) No weapon formed against ORU will prosper and every tongue that rises up against it will be shown to be wrong.
	Report Comment Perspectives, (5/3/2008 8:58:42 AM) One smells life, another smells the stench of death. One sees coming glory, another sees destruction. Our perspectives are colored by our life choices and what we have allowed to enter into our hearts and minds. Love never fails and what has meant to harm will be turned to glory. All the naysayers and all the operatives of death can not stop it.
	Report Comment Boilermaker, (5/3/2008 9:51:56 AM) I hope these kids find jobs...they should put past behind them and MOVE on...
	Report Comment CLOSE THE DOORS, (5/3/2008 10:11:35 AM) I would not admit I ever had any connections to ORU. That place needs to be closed down once and for all. ORU is no better than the religious sect that was just busted recently. ORU is an embarrassment to the whole state of Oklahoma. Padlock the doors and throw away the key. ORU sounds more like a religious cult to me. After reading comments from other articles pertaining to ORU, it sounds to me as though the people that attend ORU are a bunch of religious fanatic radicals.
	Report Comment Boilermaker, (5/3/2008 11:12:52 AM) Sad...this is what happens when a Cult hides behinds moral values like education, family, etc. History has a of repeating itself...this isn't going to the last university where stuff like this happens.. Again...religion has nothing to do with this one... its Greed pure and simple. 2000 years ago...folks even warns people of it.
	Report Comment Boilermaker, (5/3/2008 11:19:04 AM) P.S. I think it is also ironic that Tulsa World does an exclusive on Oral Roberts NOW during graduation time.... The guy is a Cultist...in my opinion. He doesn't even live in state. I first heard of him while I lived in Indiana..when he beg people for $$$ to help him pay for his med bills to cure his cancer. His cancer was physical if you asked me... What a slap to the face for these young people who have to juggle their lives now for someone's to live outside the state in luxury.
	Report Comment Boilermaker, (5/3/2008 12:19:01 PM) His cancer was physical if you asked me OOOps meant to say His Cancer WASN'T physical if you asked me. I wished you all had spell check or 'edit'.
	Report Comment Joe-Allen Doty, Tulsa, OK (5/3/2008 1:14:59 PM) According to the ORU news archive about today's commencement speaker, Kelly Wright dropped out of ORU in 1977. But, the Fox News website claims that Wright is a graduate of ORU. Which is correct?
	Report Comment John, Tulsa (5/3/2008 1:37:34 PM) 14. 5/3/2008 1:14:59 PM, Joe-Allen Doty, Tulsa, OK According to the ORU news archive about today's commencement speaker, Kelly Wright dropped out of ORU in 1977. But, the Fox News website claims that Wright is a graduate of ORU. Which is correct? --------------- Kelly Wright finally completed his ORU degree this past semester, after decades of working in the journalism business. As of today, he has been graduated by ORU.
	Report Comment paige, seattle , WA (5/3/2008 2:59:35 PM) For those that don't love us my God turn their hearts and if he can't turn their hearts may he turn their ankles so we will know them by their limping. Well I am an atheist and I'd like these new Christians to continue to attend ORU. That way, we will know by this educational branding what they are. I certainly don't expect an exodus away from ORU, the Exodus stops here. If you transfer, you are leaving the temple. So, ORU students, please do stay there. Maybe Pepperdine can help? I am sorry the all-powerful and all-knowing one wasn't there for you, maybe he was watching over suicidal Iraqi vets (12,000 a year!) or Iraqi children growing up in a war zone. Nope, no sign of him their either.
	Report Comment Joe-Allen Doty, Tulsa, OK (5/3/2008 4:00:30 PM) So, Kelly Wright's commencement speech was like a college student's Valedictorian speech then? Very interesting to be the main speaker at one's own graduation.
	Report Comment Claremore Resident, (5/3/2008 5:07:23 PM) Ok, this has gone to far. I am reporting this. You people need to leave Joe-Allen and anybody else you do not like alone.
	Report Comment Elvis, Memphis (5/3/2008 5:30:42 PM) Congratulations to the graduates. I wish them well. And, Claremore Resident, I hope you do report the violations of the terms and conditions of the posts. It is amazing how small minded and intellectually bankrupt some of these posters are. I reported them last week and to the Tulsa World's credit they pulled all of the posts on a particular story. Too bad for those who are truly interested in giving constructive comments.
	Report Comment JamesRoy, Sapulpa (5/3/2008 6:25:05 PM) It's gotten to where comment opportunities just ought not to be offered for certain kinds of stories - illegal immigration, for instance. There are too many folk out there who see comments simply as a way to insult and intimidate others. The TW knows by now what will happen when it opens up a comment section for an immigration-related story. The thread of comment will grow quickly and will be filled with invective. The anti-Hispanic crowd will weigh in, opponents will respond, the game will be on.
	Report Comment JamesRoy, Sapulpa (5/3/2008 6:27:03 PM) Where's the value in continuing to play that game. By now, the chain of events is so predictable that it could just be scripted and few would know the difference.
	Report Comment Claremore Resident, (5/3/2008 7:16:20 PM) I will post because I can and I will not let ignorant and shameful people's posts drive me off. I will report the abusers everytime. TW always emails me back their actions as well.
	Report Comment TO #25 CLAREMORE RESIDENT, (5/3/2008 7:24:28 PM) TO #25... CLAREMORE RESIDENT... Well now, aren't YOU important. I guess the Tulsa World even gives you names, addresses and phone # of people that post comments. Why don't you go out and do some volunteer work instead of sitting at your computer meddling in where it is none of your business.
	Report Comment Claremore Resident, (5/3/2008 7:36:48 PM) I will stick my nose into this situation because I will post when I please. Mr. Doty, I know and so do many others know you are not "Jo-Ellen. No, I am not going away.
	Report Comment TO #27, (5/3/2008 8:56:20 PM) TO #27. VINDICTIVE HATRED... LMAO... GO PLAY WITH YOUR TOYS LITTLE ONE,OR OTHERWISE YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE "TIME OUT" AND YOU DON'T WANT THAT.
	Report Comment Claremore Resident, (5/3/2008 9:30:31 PM) Do not have a problem with Doty, but Jo-Ellen I have a problem with.

25 of 35 comments displayed. | View All

Add Your Comment
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.