Robertson offering assistance to ORU
BY OMER GILLHAM World Staff Writer
Friday, November 30, 2007
11/30/07 at 10:42 AM
For more: Read the latest ORU stories, view the lawsuit and other documents and watch slide shows and video.
He’s already given money to the school,
and he’s sending a team to the campus.
The televangelist Pat Robertson
is adding his spiritual
muscle to the growing number
of people offering help to
Oral Roberts University as
the school weathers weeks of
controversy, including the
resignation of President Richard
Roberts.
Robertson is also the president
and chancellor of Regent
University in Virginia
Beach, Va.
In addition to giving money
to ORU recently, Robertson
has been speaking with the
school’s officials, offering his
support and expertise on running
a Christian university,
said George Pearsons, the
chairman of ORU’s board of
regents.
“We are pleased to report
that Dr. Pat Robertson has
contacted members of the
board of regents and has expressed
interest in exploring
options for the future of ORU
with Regent University,”
Pearsons said. “Dr. Robertson
is sending a team on
Monday to Tulsa to meet with
ORU regents and administrative
representatives.”
Founded by Robertson in
1978, Regent University —
originally called CBN University
— is a Christian school
offering graduate and undergraduate
programs.
The school’s Web site says,
“Our students, faculty and administrators
share a calling,
founded on biblical principles,
to make a significant difference
in our communities, our
cities, our nation and our
world.”
The two universities have
had other dealings: ORU
transferred its law school,
which it founded in 1980, to
CBN University in 1986 because
of financial difficulties.
Pearsons said he talked to
Robertson this week about
ORU’s current status.
“Pat really wants to see the
university survive and to
thrive,” Pearsons said. “It was
an excellent opportunity for
him to step in and give us
some advice and possible options.”
Pearsons declined to discuss
how much Robertson
gave to ORU.
“On the phone with me, Pat
described his love for the university
and that he wants to do
what he can to help out,” Pearsons
said. “We are just exploring
options with him and other
items that have been brought
to our attention.”
Pearsons said talks with
Robertson are one of many avenues
that have opened up for
the Tulsa school. Discussions
with Robertson are very preliminary,
he added.
Meanwhile, Pearsons said,
ORU is making progress on
items brought up in an investigation
of its spending and
business practices.
Without being specific, he
said progress had been made
on policy and procedures on
how ORU is managed.
ORU’s latest woes began
with allegations of lavish
spending by Richard Roberts
and his wife, Lindsay Roberts,
in addition to claims of retaliation
against three former faculty
members who alleged
that they were fired or forced
to resign for turning over to
ORU officials a report containing
the allegations.
The three former professors
are suing the school for
wrongful termination. Their
attorney is Gary Richardson.
Richard Roberts resigned
last week amid mounting pressure
from faculty members
and an investigation into
ORU’s spending and business
practices under his leadership.
Pearsons said more supporters
are getting in touch
with the school, wanting to
help.
“People have just rushed to
ORU’s aid in its time of need,”
he said. “You just have to understand
how grateful we are
for all the prayers and encouragement
from so many.”
ORU reportedly is $52 million
in debt.
One of the school’s best
hopes for financial relief is
coming from Mart Green, the
founder of the Mardel retail
chain.
Green and his family have
announced that they will donate
$70 million to ORU if the
school meets key requirements
to rectify its administrative
and operating practices.
Pearsons said Richard Roberts
is dealing with the turmoil
with prayer and the support of
his family and the university
family.
“It has been a very difficult
time for Richard and Lindsay,”
he said. “We just prayed for
him and loved him.”
Omer Gillham 581-8301
omer.gillham@tulsaworld.com
Regent
University
Founded in 1978, Regent is
in Virginia Beach,Va.
- Motto: “Christian
Leadership to Change the
World”
- Enrollment: 4,266
- Full-time students:
1,953
- Part-time students:
2,313
- Alumni (April 2007):
9,617
- Degrees awarded
(2006): 987
- Degrees and programs:
30+ graduate and
undergraduate degrees
Pat Robertson
- Founder and chairman of
the Christian Broadcasting
Network (CBN)
- Founder, president and
chancellor of CBN University,
now Regent University
- Former Republican
presidential candidate
Associated Images:
Pat Robertson
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