Oral Roberts University Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Campus expansion and later years=== [[File:CityPlex Towers Tulsa.jpg|thumb|[[CityPlex Towers]], originally known as City of Faith Medical and Research in Tulsa, Oklahoma]] The university built the [[CityPlex Towers|City of Faith Medical and Research Center]] hospital in 1981 and started the Oral Roberts University School of Medicine in 1978. Severe financial difficulties with both of these institutions led to their closure in 1989. Oral Roberts's son [[Richard Roberts (evangelist)|Richard]] was named president in 1993. In January 1996, [[Golden Eagle Broadcasting]], a small digital satellite Christian and family programming television network owned and operated by Oral Roberts University, was founded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oru.edu/news/oru_news/20100623_geb_signs_distribution_deal_with_directv.php|title=ORU's Golden Eagle Broadcasting Signs Distribution Deal with DIRECTV|access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> On February 5, 1997, several ORU students reportedly disrupted services at a mosque near the [[University of Tulsa]]. The students mistakenly thought it was the 27th night of [[Ramadan]] when it was actually the 28th day of Ramadan. A university spokesman indicated that the students would not be disciplined and that university officials were discussing with the students their accounts of the events, which differed from what those attending services at the mosque reported. On February 7, 1997, the Islamic Society of Tulsa received a formal apology from Reverend Bill Shuler, who led religious services on campus.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/12/us/oral-roberts-students-anger-muslims.html|title=Oral Roberts Students Anger Muslims|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 12, 1997|access-date=September 20, 2014|last1=Hoover|first1=Tim}}</ref> Due to alleged discrimination against [[LGBT]] students at ORU, [[Soulforce (organization)|Soulforce]] placed the university on its 2006 [[Equality Ride]] route, with a rally taking place on March 20, 2006.<ref>[http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/422259/activists_plan_to_visit_2_private_colleges/index.html "Activists Plan to Visit 2 Private Colleges"] redOrbit, September 18, 2009</ref> University administration refused the activists entrance to the campus, which resulted in several activists being arrested after they entered despite the university administration's decision. Soulforce members objected to the university's honor code pledge's ban on homosexual activity. All students are required to sign and abide by the honor code which places the same restriction on all sexual activity outside "traditional marriage of one man and one woman."<ref name="Oral Roberts University 2009" /> In February 2007, ORU announced that it would offer new art degrees.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Marciszewski |first1=April |title=ORU to offer new Art Degrees |url=https://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/oru-to-offer-new-arts-degrees/article_25d92a86-708f-5703-92ac-b346e673e619.html |work=[[Tulsa World]] |date=February 25, 2007}}</ref> [[File:Oral Roberts University large hands entrance from the air summer 2017.jpg|thumb|Oral Roberts University large praying hands entrance from the air summer 2017]] In 2010, ORU teamed up with the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference to open a bilingual Hispanic Center on campus. The goals of this partnership include targeting a 25% Hispanic population within the student body and to reduce the approximately 50% high school dropout rate among Hispanic students.<ref name="hispaniccenter">{{cite news |url=https://tulsaworld.com/lifestyles/oru-expands-its-outreach-with-hispanic-center/article_f6257a44-7b30-5abb-81f2-0b1cc0f0abc8.html |title=ORU expands its outreach with Hispanic Center|last=Sherman|first=Bill|date=9 April 2010 |work=Tulsa World}}</ref> ORU was granted an exception to [[Title IX]] in 2017 which allows it to legally discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons. It is ranked among the "Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth" by [[Campus Pride]].<ref name="CampusPride">{{cite web |url=https://www.campuspride.org/worstlist/ |title=Worst List: The Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Campus Pride |access-date=August 23, 2021}}</ref> ORU and [[G12 Vision]] announced in 2019 they had reached an agreement over a partnership. It was hoped that the agreement would make ORU's theological education more accessible worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |title=ORU partners with controversial G12 ministry to bring Bible education to Christians worldwide |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/oru-partners-with-controversial-g12-ministry-to-bring-bible-education-to-christians-worldwide.html |work=[[The Christian Post]] |date=January 21, 2019}}</ref> ORU moved to virtual classes for the remainder of the 2020 spring semester after the outbreak of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2020/03/30/covid-19-on-tulsa-time/ |title=Coronavirus On Tulsa Time |last=Nietzel |first=Michael T. |website=Forbes |language=en |access-date=2020-04-22}}</ref> In fall 2020, students were required to get tested for COVID-19 before moving into the dorms. All students and staff were required to wear masks on campus at all times.<ref name="maskrequired">{{cite news |url=https://ktul.com/news/local/oru-requiring-masks-anyone-living-on-campus-to-get-tested-for-covid-19 |title=ORU requiring masks, anyone living on campus to get tested for COVID-19|last=Hughey|first=Haley|date=30 July 2020 |work=Tulsa News Channel 8}}</ref> The university also rearranged class schedules in order for the semester to end early.<ref name="endearly">{{cite news |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/oru-will-end-fall-semester-early-to-limit-possible-exposure-to-covid-19/article_6d9e6091-d878-5603-821d-d4f29164b782.html |title=ORU will end fall semester early to limit 'possible exposure' to COVID-19|last=Overall|first=Michael|date=28 May 2020 |work=Tulsa World}}</ref> In 2021, the university expanded its campus through the addition of 3 new buildings: a welcome center (which broke ground in April), Media Arts Center, and library. The expansion was part of ORU's $75 million campaign, which allocated $60 million to these new structures with the remainder going towards student scholarships.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/oru-expands-adds-3-new-buildings-on-campus |title=ORU expands, adds 3 new buildings on campus |last=Quezada |first=Jeannette|website=Tulsa World |date=March 26, 2021}}</ref> ORU also announced in April 2021 the development of the Mike Carter Athletic Center, which is expected to be over 40,000 square feet, and renovation of the Mabee Center.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/oru/bill-haisten-oru-s-grand-slam-mike-carter-[β¦]-renovation/article_cf8fae9c-a086-11eb-ba22-03264a1582af.html |title=ORU's 'grand slam' β Mike Carter Athletic Center and Mabee Center renovation |last=Haisten|first=Bill|website=Tulsa World |date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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