Chuck U.Farley, (8/30/2008 7:43:19 AM)

"The Robertses have denied the allegations."
--
Are you kidding me?!
These people are squeeky clean and everyone knows it.

Graychin, Eucha (8/30/2008 9:40:13 AM)

It's surprising to hear that ORU is claiming that a written audit report doesn't exist. Of course it exists.

It's possible that no written copy was left at ORU, and that a claim could be made that the report is subject to the attorney-client privelige. That's why ORU hired a law firm to do the "audit," and the law firm hired the accountants.

Obviously, the audit report contains information that is damaging to ORU. The cover-up continues under the new regime.

QLC, (8/30/2008 10:36:37 AM)

Well, the biggest sucker is the Green family that either bought ORU or bailed them out. We just need enough information to take away their tax free status, and stop the donations. Then they can do what ever they care to do.

Pelagius, (8/30/2008 10:40:24 AM)

Well, it may be a small piece of evidence, but it is evidence nonetheless. I agree with QLC that the tax-free status needs to go. It is particularly appalling that the $500 was to assist a student. One of the first rules of dealing with donations is that the money goes where the donor intended it to go.

Where does the choking sense of entitlement come from that the Roberts clan can remodel a perfectly decent home while a student needs assistance to live on? This is disgusting.

The constant delays in the hearing(s) are also disgusting. The Roberts lawyers and family are turning this into a game. Let's get on with this and get the evidence out. No one who refuses to deal with transparency and accountability needs to have control of so much as a plug nickel.

Anne M. Green, Tulsa (8/30/2008 11:35:22 AM)

Graychin - "Obviously, the audit report contains information that is damaging to ORU."
I disagree. What is obviuos is that the report contains information damaging to "Richard Roberts and family." ORU is NOT Richard and Lindsay. It is a student body, faculty and staff, who had nothing to do with The Robertes personal delusions of power, insatiable greed and alleged (have to say that for cover) misuse of ORU monies. That this accountant was asked to cook the books, is completely intolerable. But, those involved represent a miniscule fraction of "ORU."
I also disagree also with "The cover-up continues under the new regime." The swift actions of the NEW Board of Trustees, occured immediately to reorganize the board and rectify previous glaring problems, when Mart Green's offer was accepted by the OLD Board of Regents. Once Mr. Green had the acceptance of his offer, there was NO delay in transparency.
I would agree with you that "it's possible that no wirtten copy" of the report was left at ORU. In fact, I think that may have been legal advice they were given. "Let us give you (New Board of Trustees) an oral report. (No pun intended.) If it is oral only, then the contents of our audit are merely "counsel", and are protected by privacy."
While you and others may consider this NON-transparency of the new regime, I honestly see it as an attempt at compassion for an exiting President who doesn't need the new Board to kick him to the curb. They know he will be held accountable for his actions, and for Oral's sake, they were simply allowing Richard (whether deserving or not) the chance to leave without tar and feathers.
And finally to James from MWC. I would repeat again, ORU is NOT Richard Roberts. The students, faculty and staff are innocent victims of the bad behaviour of a few. To suggest "I hope they bulldoze ORU and turn it into a parking lot." shows your lack of understanding of the subject matter, and a misdirection of your derision.

Graychin, Eucha (8/30/2008 11:48:41 AM)

If the audit report is not damaging to ORU, there is no reason for ORU to withhold it in this trial for the sake of saving Richard and Lindsay Roberts from further embarrassment.

If the report is not damaging to ORU, it is the duty of the present board to release the report to better defend ORU from in this lawsuit.

But the audit report remains a closely-held secret. Why?

Lucas, (8/30/2008 11:58:52 AM)

The Roberts family has been taking money from well- intentioned people for their own
personal wealth for years,under the guise of religion. Oral Roberts once told people that God had told him he (Oral) would die, if the donors didn't give enough money Tthe Roberts are a bunch of charlatans who have been swindling people out of their hard -earned money for generations. What followers of Christ live like millionaires while asking widows to send part of their social security check to them? This sanctimonious family is among the best of scam artists. If people hadn't given willingly the family would be in jail - hopefully they will be found guilty of misusing funds.

TulGal, Tulsa (8/30/2008 11:59:46 AM)

Graychin--I agree with Anne. It sounds like the audit was completed and dealt with before Mr. Green was entrenched with ORU.

And James MWC: Couldn't you come up with something original?.."bulldoze it and make a parking lot.." We've heard this a gazillion times since this mess rose to the surface. I agree that the original bunch were conniving, as well as the majority of their BOR. And the same goes for the other televangelists (I believe I've seen the term Prosperity Pimps) whose sermons are "send money and you'll get well, be happy, be prosperous and go to Heaven."

Even though I have no respect for OR, I hope the school survives.

Pelagius, (8/30/2008 12:32:18 PM)

Anne, yes, ORU is separate and distinct from the Roberts family in everyone's mind but the Roberts family's. Perhaps there is compassion for the exiting president, but why should there be? He has exploited the donations of well-intentioned and well-meaning people who thought they were building a school, not paying for Richard's private jet or the remodel of his house.

For the sake of people who love ORU, I hope that the previous chicaneries of the Roberts administration will come to light, be dealt with, and remedied. But the assumption of many people, when posting, is that the Roberts family saw ORU as their own personal private fiefdom, for their exploitation, and with Richard as the head of the organization (a tax-exempt one, I might add) people all over ORU were made willingly or unwillingly complicit with his shady dealings. Unfortunately, that reflects on the school. As the aristocracy of the Prosperity Gospel movement, they have a responsibility for "nobless oblige," to obligate themselves to transparency and accountability, to act nobly and in the interest of the people they serve. Nowhere has this been evident with the Roberts family, and ORU has suffered because of it.

Because of this link between the family and the school, I believe it is highly probable that the audit contains some damaging information that erode confidence among donors that could be fatal to the school. It is possible the audit is being withheld for that reason. That's a terrible shame, if that's the case, and it is sad that the school can't come clean and move on, but if that IS the case, then the responsibility for that rests solely on the Roberts family management, or mismanagement, of an institution that means a lot to a lot of people.

MSK2008, (8/30/2008 1:27:57 PM)

I wonder if people know that the Roberts have bought 2 brand new houses in a Jenks neighborhood, which one their daughter lives in, hmmm hiding money in real estate investments...hmmmm

1artist, KIEFER (8/30/2008 4:05:17 PM)

Dear Ms. Anne M. Greene
Did you ever work on that campus? If you did while the Roberts' family was living on the compound, then you would know that ORU was their personal playground. Gossip tells that while their daughter lived in the dorm security was told to leave the back door unlocked. Gossip tells the girls used security golf carts like go-carts on the racetrack all over campus for their personal use. Gossip tells us they 'forced' an employee from their contracted foodservice labor pool to clean their dog-pooped house. Gossip would tell you that ORU paid for cases and cases of aquafina and coca coca cola and dr. pepper that was hand-delivered to their house for years. Gossip tells us about how the Roberts' clan built and stocked an underground cache in fear of Y2K. Gossip tells everybody on campus to never get on Lindsay's bad side. So, if this was a university that your daddy built and you've had access to it for twenty-something years, wouldn't you feel like it was yours?

I'd like to believe they all started out with honorable intentions, but with some people the temptation to abuse power is just too much. There have been some terrific folks who have put their lives into making ORU a better place, and there are some employees who couldn't care less about the school, but you'll find that in every organization on the planet.

I hope that this is resolved, and I don't want to see the place razed to the ground, but I'm not God.

Comment, (8/30/2008 5:17:04 PM)

Graychin. You are soooooooooo right. The cover up continues. Does anybody know where LR and RR went? Are they still on the compound? Are they in Tulsa or California w/grandpa oral?

pm, (8/30/2008 9:09:05 PM)

MSK2008 There is nothing wrong with the Roberts buying a house in Jenks, if that is what they really did. They have to have somewhere to live, it would be a crime for anyone in the world to be homeless. I looked at the real estate documents and no where does it say that the Roberts brought a house in Jenks or anywhere else.

Comment: Yes the Roberts are still in Tulsa, but I don't know where in Tulsa as it is none of my business. I do know that the offices for OREA is somewhere on E Skelly according to the documents. No they are not on the compound if I am not mistaken they moved from the compound sometime before Easter, also OR does not have any quarters on Campus anymore. He as ordered all of his things be moved off of Campus. When OR is in town he will be staying with one of his children.

Also everyone is having fits about the audit, Greene himself said that there was nothing going on and if there was the Greene family would not have donated money to ORU. I don't remember when he said that the news and tulsa world but he did.

Pelagius, No RR will not see orange jumpsuit. He has not done anything illegally just stupid. The documents state that none of this is criminal just civil and stupid management.

Also rumor has it that RR's attorney has filed documents proving that RR has not done anything criminally wrong just was stupid in managment. Also rumor has it that the IRS has all the same documents that RR's attorney has filed and that the IRS has fined OREA but that RR has not done anything wrong just stupid.

pm, (8/30/2008 9:13:19 PM)

1artist you are right there was alot of Gossip going on around campus, even when I was there. Luckily I did not listen and believe all that I heard. I just worried about school and my job. Prayed to God all of the time for support, love and guidance. Like I once told a friend you can not always believe everything you heard and sometimes what you saw because like words sometimes actions can be deceiving.

Observer3, T.B.D. (8/30/2008 11:01:13 PM)

pm: Have you ever heard the quote, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"? Sticking your head in the sand when you hear and see evil is not a solution, it just allows evil to continue. Thank God someone saw, listened, and took action. I agree with Yellow Dog - why would anyone send their child there?

pm, (8/31/2008 12:24:42 AM)

Observer3 Yes I have but I don't believe. Unfortunately I have learn from experience not to judge. Sorry it has took me so long to commit back but I have been on the phone long distance to family in NO and they are on there way up here to safety. Everyone you want to talk about evil lets talk about all of those politicans in NO who have not done anything about the levees for years and now innocent people are paying the price with there lives and homes. What is a crime is how many people lost there homes and lives in Katrina and now in this hurricane. That is more important than this mess. I am praying with all of my heart that my family make it out and to safety. I know my parents are safe but I am not sure about my sister and her family.

pm, (8/31/2008 12:37:28 AM)

Wake up call. My 13 year old was reading some of the comments and she commented about how much hate there is. I was thinking about it and she is right, there is a lot of hate. I could not tell her that she was wrong because she is right. I won't say what she said because everybody will probably put her down, call her evil, and condemn her.

Observer3 I do not stick my head in the sand when there is evil, but I don't want to destroy anyone either. God loves everyone no matter what and that is what I try to do.

jonas x3, Tulsa (8/31/2008 1:02:18 AM)

It is a fact – ORU/ORM have been putting earmarked monies in the general fund for decades.

Its common knowledge in the ORU community.

pm, (8/31/2008 1:09:37 AM)

One more thing that my 13 year old has said that everyone is having fits about giving money to Ministers what about the people on Donate give money to people like Beth Moore and/or Kay Arthur. Why isn't anyone have fits about them too. Also she said that if everyone is having fits about giving money to people, what about when they do the offering every Sunday in Worship Service. That is giving money to people also, why isn't anyone having fits about that. I hate to cut this short but the phone is ringing prayfully it is the rest of my family from NO telling me at they are on there way.

pm, (8/31/2008 1:32:33 AM)

jonas x3 now that ORU/ORM are separated like everyone wanted they will not be doing that anymore. There will be separate accounts now so no one can say anything about it anymore because they are two separate businesses now. The only thing they have in commone is that OR is the founder and Chancellor of ORU/ORM and that OR is on the board of trustees for ORM for life and no one can do anything about it according to the legal documents. OR is a lifetime member of ORM's board of trustees. He has no say on the board of trustees of ORU at all. The only reason his name is on the board of trustees is because he is the Chancellor and founder of ORU but he has no say in what happens at ORU, but he does have somewhat a say at ORM because he is still an active board member of ORM but not an active board member of ORU.

pm, (8/31/2008 1:33:14 AM)

OK I really have to go now, I have some praying do so, also pray for the safety of my family.

Pelagius, (8/31/2008 10:28:34 AM)

pm, hope your NOLA family is okay and can get out safely and to OK.

Your daughter is right about the hate; there are people who feel that what the Roberts family did/does is like the thing that caused Jesus to turn over the tables of the moneychangers in the Temple...ripping people off. If you remember that story, an animal without blemish was required to sacrifice, and poor people were paying the moneychangers for what they thought were pure animals, but they weren't. These people were paying top dollar for a deficient return on their money.

Ring any bells? And your daught is right that people DO give money to other televangelists and teachers. But many of those operate with transparency and accountability, and belong to the Evangelical financial accounting group that monitors the appropriate use of funds. The Roberts family does not.

And don't forget that Senator Grassley has an investigation going on with the Prosperity Pimps to see if they are violating their tax status. People pay taxes on their hard-earned money and when they give to these places that are prohibited from violating their tax-free status, they are giving to what they think are non-profit entities that do are supposed to do the Lord's work, and not engage in political favoritism or influence.

People OUGHT to expect and demand accountability from the people they donate to, and if they don't get it, they should give their money elsewhere.

pm, (8/31/2008 4:48:22 PM)

Pelagius That is why I don't donate/pledge money to anyone because it is to much of a hassel. I don't let my family do it either. There is no since in donating money if all everybody does is complain about it, I might buy popcorn from boy scouts and girl scout cookies every now and then but that is it and that may be once every three years, again because everyone complains about the money again. Instead of complaining about money, people should help people like the hurricane victims in NO, or something like that, but it seems like people don't want to spend the money to help anyone they just complain about the money.

Serenity, Tulsa (8/31/2008 6:39:24 PM)

pm: It is not hate, It is concern that naive people keep giving money to these money oriented religions who use the name of God to get rich and have all the pleasures of life with other people's money.

pm, (8/31/2008 7:48:12 PM)

Serenity You call destroying people is not hate. Also it is no one's concern what I do with my money. The only person who should be concerned where the money goes is my husband and I not anyone else. It is my money not anyone else. I would never destroy anyone ever it is not right. There is alot of money oriented religions who use the name of God to get rich and have all the pleasures of life with other people's money but you don't see people destroying them. Like I said earlier I am not saying what I told my 13 year old because of all of the hate and people being destroyed. She has a mind,heart of her own that she needs to follow not anyone elses. This is why I do not let my 13 year old on sites like this unless it is for school and she is only aloud to print out the article not anything else.