Oral Roberts University reportedly owes over $50 million

Thursday, October 25, 2007 

In the midst of accusations of wrongdoing, the Oral Roberts University (ORU) Board of Regents Chairman George Pearsons said the school owes over $55 million in debt. According to IRS records, ORU had about $76 million in revenue in 2005, and its operating budget for 2007-2008 was over $82 million. One former regent member said that the endowement approached $60 million at its peak, but a university spokesman said the current endowment exceeds $34 million.

In September Richard Roberts, who served as president since 1993, was accused of wrong-doing and stepped down temporarily last week. His father Oral Roberts returned to serve as a temporary president last week. On Monday night alumni, clergy from around the U.S., and the people fired held a rally at Morningstar Baptist Church asking for Richard to permantly resign. They say Robert's temporary leave of absence "isn't enough."

Related news

• "Oral Roberts returns to namesake university amid son's scandal" — Wikinews, October 22, 2007
• "Richard Roberts takes leave of absence from Oral Roberts University" — Wikinews, October 17, 2007
• "More allegations filed against Oral Roberts University" — Wikinews, October 14, 2007
• "Oral Roberts University president accused of illegal political donations and financial misappropriation" — Wikinews, October 5, 2007

Sources

• "Oral Roberts University Lawsuit Collection" — Tulsa World, October 2007
• "Oral Roberts Univ. 'struggling financially,' with more than $50M in debt, board chairman says" — Associated Press, October 24, 2007
• "Regents chairman says ORU $55M in debt" — Kalamazoo Gazette, October 24, 2007
• "Televangelism leads to insularity" — Shelbyville Times-Gazette, October 24, 2007
• "Chairman Says ORU Over $50M in Debt" — Washington Post, October 22, 2007