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 was approved by faculty Monday and obtained late Tuesday by The Associated Press. Faculty plan to distribute the nonbinding document to the school’s Board of Regents and the faculty assembly at an upcoming meeting.
Donald Vance, a professor of biblical languages and literature who voted with the majority, said the vote by a quorum of faculty was “nearly unanimous,” but he 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.”
Jeremy Burton, a spokesman for Oral Roberts University, declined to comment on the vote Tuesday.
Richard Roberts has been on temporary leave while an investigation into the school’s finances continues.
