Graychin, Eucha (11/15/2008 5:16:58 AM)

It's an axiom of the public relations business that you always dump your bad news - the stuff you'd rather not talk about - late on Friday afternoon, so it can disappear into the black hole of the weekend.

If Mr. Green thinks that it's worthwhile to spend $440,000 of his $70 million donation to make Richard Roberts go away for good, I'm willing to accept his judgment. I guess he thinks that Richard deserves a reward for the fine job that he had been doing as University president. Either that, or he's trying to buy off the possibility of still more bad publicity. ORU even hired a consultant whose report gives the University some cover for spending still more money on Richard.

Lindsay will burn through that money in about six months. Then what?

I wish that someone knowledgeable would write a new history of the Roberts family and ORU from the tent-meeting days through the present. Wouldn't it make fascinating reading?

Can ORU ever overcome its long history of scandal, insider dealing, and hypocrisy? Is there really some way to cleanse it thoroughly? I doubt it. The past year's shakeup at the top is a noble step forward, but institutions and their cultures have long memories.

Isaac Parker, Tulsa (11/15/2008 6:13:31 AM)

Nice payday for Richard!

Eric, Tulsa (11/15/2008 7:48:30 AM)

In the greater context of things, that isn't a lot of money.
Still, it is just another corporate handout, a.k.a. "golden parachute".
So long, Richard!

Sarge776, Tulsa (11/15/2008 10:08:50 AM)

I find it hard to believe that Richards' wife spends a lot of money unless it is on ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. She sure doesn't spend it on hairdressers or weight watchers. I see them both on tv from time to time just cause I am bored switching through the channels and everytime she starts talking, and keeps on and on about nothing, it is almost like Richard wants to tell her to shut the heck up. They both are scam artists who just happen to know the bible and they make it suit themselves. People still actually donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Richard and his clan.

Dad, Up North (11/15/2008 10:12:26 AM)

Put it all on red!!

Observer3, T.B.D. (11/15/2008 10:15:42 AM)

Sarge: I agree. Lindsay looks like a bag lady! But she's probably laughing all the way to the bank today.

ExTribbie, Pueblo West, Colorado (11/15/2008 12:12:13 PM)

So, somebody catch me up, here -- are they going to change the name of the school? Not that I have any useful suggestions for that ...
Seriously, the history of almost all religious organizations and movements, however they began, is apostasy, which is the absolute disconnection from the best (and most practical) principles of the faith. This almost always occurs publicly, and an interesting and probably meaningful argument can be made that the cyclical requirements of publicity contribute to such apostasy in a primary sense. Notice that where you, i and most everyone else would slink away to seek shelter in ignominy, the younger Robertses are still on TV (we don't see their programs out here on the High Plains).
To me, this reinforces a principle, as Jesus taught, that the emphasis of the Christian faith is personal, and public only in the right time and place, as guided by the best instincts of the Spirit.

insider9909, Cushing (11/15/2008 1:49:34 PM)

I look forward to the day they turn that place into a paved parking lot.

FOG-Friend of God, Tulsa (11/15/2008 2:01:35 PM)

Just curious, who is Adrian who is on the program? Is that Jordan Roberts' husband?

cherry74129, Tulsa (11/15/2008 2:54:03 PM)

I would love to never hear anything about Richard Robert's or the rest of his family again. They are all losers.

Greatnorthern, (11/15/2008 4:19:26 PM)

The former "accountant" who claims $1 Billion annually was funneled through unmarked accounts can't count! His claim isn't even believable. Use some logic here. There was also a claim/complaint that a "donation" that was given to go to a SPECIFIC student wasn't given to that student, but put in a general fund. The reason? It's ILLEGAL. If it's to be given for tuition to a particular student, it is NOT a donation, & is against the rules for non-profit schools. (If interested in the source of these claims, read the old TW articles.) To be on a Board of Regents, or a Board of Trustees of a college or university, you must also be a big donor. Not just at ORU, but at ALL colleges & universities.

It's obvious, from reading the comments on this article, that no one here is versed at all on the protocol of academia & higher education presidential salaries. I've followed this situation for the past year. In the earliest documentation, the amounts that Roberts earned as President of a University of that size was small potatoes. I wish them luck in finding a new President that will do it for that low of a salary. That's reality! It won't happen unless the new one isn't that qualified, or is independently wealthy & bored.
If ORU wants to play with the big boys in higher education (which they do excel in academically), they will have to face that reality. Most of you who are making comments on this article talk like you think ORU should be run like a 1934 Bible College, where the staff is paid with live chickens. When a president leaves a university, the financial package is often higher than the one quoted for Roberts. Contracts have to be fulfilled, & this speaks of 2 years contract. Amenities while president? They're so high your hair would curl. Again, the claims against the Roberts' is peanuts in light of college presidents. The first & foremost responsibility of a university president is FUNDRAISING. That's how it is in SECULAR as well as religious institutions. If they can't raise funds/donations, & large ones, they don't stay president for very long. Looking at the history of ORU, I would say that Roberts' biggest mistake was in not raising tuition to keep with the going rate of other schools, especially since what they offered in regards to dorm space, access to professors (not teachers assistants), etc. was better than other comparable universities. It's not surprising to see fees of 32-42K for board/room, (4 & 5 to a dorm room---at ORU it is 2 to a room) & students hardly ever see a "real" professor. From the uneducated comments listed here, I doubt that the writers have ever even managed a dog pound.

Bluebird of HOPE, Osage County (11/15/2008 6:17:43 PM)

Looks like we got deleted folks. Jason has to stop baiting us with these photos. But god, ya just can't help it. Look at him. LOL

TW must be having a blast up editing! LOL :-D

I can hear them cracking up all the way up here in these Osage HIlls.

Bullhead, Stilwell (11/15/2008 8:56:08 PM)

Joe-Allen, people just try to push your buttons. I think if you would ignore them, they might tire of irritating you and give it up. I'm sorry people are that way towards you. I enjoy your knowledge of Tulsa and the stories you tell. You really should write a book.

Bullhead, Stilwell (11/15/2008 9:20:54 PM)

Joe-Allen, You can ignore them in real life. If they post on your profile page, just don't pay it any mind. They'll tire of it. Whoever is doing it is childish and it's like being a bully on the school yard. The more they know it upsets you, the more they'll do it. The only other way is to make your profile private until the TW IT guy figures it out. Seems to me that an IT guy should know how to fix that with a couple of key strokes.

Anyway, keep on being you. I wouldn't know what to do if you weren't around =)

Bluebird of HOPE, Osage County (11/16/2008 8:36:51 AM)

Joe

This is what I do:

Whenever, I check out of the sand box as Mr. Cory M. puts it, I go back into my account and punch in the 'private' status. This way NO one can mess with my profile when I am gone from the sand pit.

There is nothing wrong with going 'private'. There is a reason why you have that choice. It is there to prevent the abuse you heck all of US have been experiencing. Cory M. I would think is probably #1 hit list on the ABUSE list. He plays chicken very well. Why do you think he has taken on so many identities.

You take the blog too too seriously. This is an escape for over worked over stressed people. It is a release from life's pressures. It is not to be one of life's pressure. If it becomes one, control it with the tool TW provides.

Bluebird of HOPE, Osage County (11/16/2008 10:26:31 AM)

I am Cory, Amsterdam (11/15/2008 9:34:47 PM)
Bullhead, you can leave me any message you want. You're cool (sort of)! But then again, I define cool!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No. Only Blue defines COooooool. ya know. like 'sick'. 'awesome' 'rad'. 'brilliant'.

To define cool, one has to 'see, know and experience cool'. Been there done that!!!

Cory M. isn't quite there ...yet. almost but there yet.

Bluebird of HOPE, Osage County (11/16/2008 10:27:50 AM)

ooops NOT there yet.

Bluebird of HOPE, Osage County (11/16/2008 12:57:19 PM)

The Fonz!!! He ain't cool. He's OLD. You just gave away your age! old fart.

Check out the blue new avatar! :-) Now that is cool. My kids at school though so too. lol :-D

Jayhawk in Jenks, jenks (11/17/2008 12:39:38 PM)

all we have to do is lay off a hundred or so 'expendable' employees to make up for it....

rumockingme, (11/17/2008 6:58:05 PM)

A great book that I recommend that everyone read is "Give Me that Prime Time Religion". It's an eye opener as to the history of the ORU legacy and how it all started. The author is from Tulsa and was severly beaten when the book was published. The book was also confiscated by ORU and banished. I believe that it can still be found through amazon.

Chuck U.Farley, (11/21/2008 10:42:27 PM)

rumockingme

you never give up, the key to your successes.