GO FORWARD 4

Oh, ORUniversity!

Trouble in paradise. Well, okay...it was never quite paradise, but despite all the controversy and my rebel facade as a student at Oral Roberts University, I love the school. Sure, it has its faults, but compared to the average university, ORU is an oasis in the desert of liberal arts education.

On the short list of quality universities where a student can grow both academically and spiritually, I put ORU at the top. It is among the most diverse schools in the country with one exception: pretty much everyone is a committed Christian. During my four years, I had roommates that were Nazarene, Baptist, Pentecostal and completely unchurched. Guys on my wing were Greek, Mexican, Cuban, Sri Lankan, Indian and South African. Among the thirty-something guys who lived on my floor I can count doctors, accountants, filmmakers, teachers, cops, authors and businessmen. A few are in the ministry. One co-editor from the student newspaper is in the State Department...somewhere in South America last I heard. All in all, it was a great experience that prepared me for life (and gave me a wonderful Christian wife!)

Never did one of our professors call America a terrorist nation. Nobody was ridiculed for believing that God created the world. The peer pressure was to NOT drink, engage in sex or use drugs. There's much to be said about such an environment, even when so-called "scandal" strikes.

The past few weeks have been interesting for us alumists. I'm pretty sure that I speak for many former students when I say that I'm not all that surprised that things didn't quite work out for Richard Roberts. Don't get me wrong -- I was hoping it would, but as he transitioned into leadership during my junior and senior years, skepticism prevailed among the students, faculty and alumni.

Richard seemed an odd fit for university leadership, unless it was strictly symbolic. He got off to a rocky start when he fired his well-liked sister-in-law, Roberta Potts. After that, things settled down and the university seemed to run smoothly. But alas, something was rotten in the state of Denmark. (Learned that in theater. We did Shakespeare, Tennesse Williams and even Oscar Wilde!)

I read the actual lawsuit. It's pretty flimsy. The biggest potential problem, from a legal standpoint, probably lies in the political activism of students in the mayoral race. Most of the attacks on Richard and Lindsay are he-said, she-said things. Some are blatantly tacky and ridiculous.

I can't help but wonder what really forced his resignation. I have no inside information, but it's not hard to imagine that someone slipped something across his desk that was so incriminating that he had no choice but to quit. To go from "God told me to deny everything" to "God forced me to resign" in such a short time rings hollow. Call Richard whatever you want, but he's no quitter.

So now an outside businessman steps in with a big donation and an even bigger pledge -- up to $70 million, reportedly. Of course, there are strings attached. But given the donor, that's a good thing.

I met Mart Green, owner of retail chains Mardel and Hobby Lobby, a couple of years ago. Perhaps more significantly, I know some of the circles in which he operates. This is a guy who doesn't need to run a university. He doesn't seek notoriety. His actions and track record indicate one thing: he genuinely wants to help.

His insistance on complete financial accountability is a much-needed breath of fresh air after the rumors and hearsay surrounding Richard's departure. Students, alumni and faculty should take heart. And if you're like me, keep designating your contributions to specific departments!