Oral Roberts University Saved?

Photo from source, AOL News

I covered the multi-layered Oral Roberts University scandal some time ago, and it's back in the news again. It seems the beleagered college has a new benefactor. To the tune of $70 million dollars.

[Excerpt]

Oral Roberts University Gets a Lifeline

Oral Roberts University, the debt-ridden evangelical institution riven by scandal, has been handed a $70 million lifeline.

Mart Green, founder of the Christian office and educational supply store chain Mardel, said Tuesday he would immediately give $8 million to the university, with the rest to come after a 60-to-90-day review of the university's financial records. . .

Read more at: AOL News

UPDATE: Oral Roberts University Scandal

I've reported on this scandal twice before (here and here), but I had no idea just how extensive it really is. Multiple sex scandals, multiple money scandals. Outrageous abuse of donations. . . It makes the Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker scandal of the 80s seem downright sedate.

Check out this post at AmericaBlog.com, and just take a look at how many bulleted items are in the list. It's a real doozy.

Oral Roberts University facing HUGE scandal at AmericaBlog.com

Update: Oral Roberts University Scandal

This is a followup to a story that I posted some time ago.

The president of Oral Roberts University, Oral's son, Richard (yes, Oral's son's name is Dick) has taken a "leave of absence," due to the massive scandal that has erupted there. Surprise!

[Excerpt]

President of Oral Roberts to Take Leave of Absence

The president of Oral Roberts University, Richard Roberts, said yesterday that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence following allegations of spending irregularities and family misconduct.

“The untrue allegations have struck a terrible blow in my heart,” Dr. Roberts said in a statement. “The untrue allegations of sexual misconduct by my wife have hurt the most. It has broken her heart and the hearts of my children.”

Read on at: NYTimes.com

Scandal at Oral Roberts University (Surprised?)

Image from Wikipedia.org

I can't imagine this story would surprise anybody. It is surprising that a student of "Oral Roberts University" would think that his degree had any value, and that scandal could devalue it.

Unsurprising as well is the possibility of a sex scandal in the mix. It is surprising that it seems to be Oral's daughter-in-law who is (allegedly!) interested in underage hanky panky!

Side note: we know that the Bush Administration is fond of of hiring graduates of Pat Robertson's Regent University. I wonder if they get them from Oral U. as well?

[Excerpt]

Scandal brewing at Oral Roberts U.

TULSA, Okla. - Twenty years ago, televangelist Oral Roberts said he was reading a spy novel when God appeared to him and told him to raise $8 million for Roberts' university, or else he would be "called home."

Now, his son, Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts, says God is speaking again, telling him to deny lurid allegations in a lawsuit that threatens to engulf this 44-year-old Bible Belt college in scandal.

Richard Roberts is accused of illegal involvement in a local political campaign and lavish spending at donors' expense, including numerous home remodeling projects, use of the university jet for his daughter's senior trip to the Bahamas, and a red Mercedes convertible and a Lexus SUV for his wife, Lindsay. . .

Read the rest at: news.yahoo.com