Roberts receives 'no confidence' vote

By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS, Associated Press Writer 36 minutes ago
TULSA, Okla. - Embattled Oral Roberts University president Richard Roberts, facing accusations he misspent university funds to support a lavish lifestyle, has received a vote of "no confidence" by the tenured faculty at the evangelical university.
The resolution, obtained late Tuesday by The Associated Press, states that the faculty approved the motion "without regard to the outcome of the current lawsuit against the university" and plans to distribute the document to the school's Board of Regents and the faculty assembly at an upcoming meeting.
Jeremy Burton, a spokesman for Oral Roberts University, declined Tuesday to comment on the document, which was passed Monday by a quorum of the faculty after a three-and-a-half-hour meeting.
The faculty passed two other motions: a vote of "confidence" in Mark Lewandowski, the school's executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, "with regard to his call for greater faculty governance and transparency of university finances" and the desire of the faculty to have a greater role on how university leadership is selected.
Donald Vance, a professor of biblical languages and literature who voted "yes" to all three motions, said the vote was "nearly unanimous," but declined to give the exact tally.
"It's essentially how the university has been run," said Vance, who has taught at the 5,700-student school for 13 years. "We see the Board of Regents as allies wanting to do the right thing, but we're not sure they know everything and we're not sure they knew how the faculty felt."
Richard Roberts has been on temporary leave while an investigation into the school's finances continues.
Accusations of lavish spending were detailed in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed Oct. 2 by three former ORU professors. The lawsuit includes allegations of a $39,000 shopping tab at one store for Richard Roberts' wife, Lindsay, a $29,411 Bahamas senior trip on the university jet for one of Roberts' daughters and a stable of horses for the Roberts children.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Richard and Lindsay Roberts denied wrongdoing. Richard Roberts has said the lawsuit amounted to "intimidation, blackmail and extortion."
Tulsa attorney Gary Richardson, who filed the lawsuit against ORU on behalf of the former professors, said he was "encouraged" to see that steps are being taken to preserve the university.
"When we filed the suit, I said I really personally believe that this lawsuit is very much like surgery," Richardson said Tuesday. "When there's disease in the body, sometimes it requires surgery in order for there to be healing."
Last week, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley announced a Senate investigation into whether six televangelists violated their organizations' tax-exempt status by living lavishly on the backs of small donors.
The Robertses were not among the six. But those targeted include three members of the school's Board of Regents: Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn.
Former ORU regent Harry McNevin told AP in a recent interview that he quit the board in disgust in 1987 after it became clear that the Robertses were dipping into the school's endowment fund for their personal use.