Three former professors from Oral Roberts University are suing the president, Richard Roberts, for his inappropriate expenditures; students and staff alike have inquired about the ethical use of millions of dollars worth of donations, only to be denied by the president.
Roberts and his family are accused of abusing the University jet for his daughter's senior trip to the Bahamas - Roberts billed the nearly $30,000-trip as a recruiting mission or "an evangelistic function of the president," according to the Associated Press.
The professors of ORU were unjustly punished for trying to reveal injustice within the University; they were terminated after turning in a document detailing the University's misconduct to the board of regents.
Why a non-profit university such as ORU even has a private jet in the first place is problematic. According to The New York Times, Harvard University is one of the wealthiest non-profit organizations in the country, and they don't even have a private jet.
UB students are used to a lack of transparency that ORU is currently enduring. However, this year's Student Association has been very upfront about their budget. SA has an open-door policy for those who want to read the budget: it can be read at 350 Student Union, and there is an online version as well.
Having the budget available to the public holds SA accountable for their expenses. Last year's SA budgeted $11,000 for their cell phones, which they may argue was necessary to keep in touch with clubs. If students disagree with an astronomical expenditure, they can contact The Spectrum to investigate, which is separate from Sub-Board, Inc.
The importance of having the financial truths exposed at levels of society cannot by underestimated. When it's not, there are bound to be questions from faculty, staff and students. An Oral Roberts student, Cornell Cross II, a senior studying government, said he is looking to transfer to another school because the scandal has "severely devalued and hurt the reputation of my degree."
"We have asked and asked and asked to see the finances of our school and what they're doing with our money, and we've been told no," said Cross in The New York Times. "Now we know why. As a student, I'm not going to stand for it any longer."
Students should have access to all the budgetary information they want, as they provide the majority of a school's capital and trust it will be put toward facilitating learning. Professors and students shouldn't be a second thought, but a first priority, to a president of a university.
Seriously though, why doesn't UB have a private jet?
It's never been a better time to be a dentist; working shorter hours, setting their own rates and being selective about which insurance they accept, all resulting in record profits. According to The New York Times, more dentists focus on the business behind dentistry than the practice of it.
Dentists rarely accepting Medicaid insurance exacerbates the diminishing quality of the health care system. As a result, public dental clinics have waiting lists stretching on for months. Dentists can refer the patients to be seen by specialists, but finding a specialist that takes Medicaid will take even longer.
Alyce Driver's experience with the dental system is one of sickness and death; she lost her insurance before one of her two sons could have the surgery he needed. Her eldest son, Deamont, fell violently ill after a tooth abscess spread to his brain. An $80 tooth extraction would have saved Deamonte - his emergency brain surgery wound up costing $250,000. Unfortunately, Deamonte died from complications from the surgery, according to The Washington Post.
It's hard to think this could happen locally. UB's medical insurance has allowances for doctor visits and pharmacy refills, but it makes dental coverage sound like an additional benefit. Regular visits at the UB clinic or participating area dentists cost $35 for the basics.
Any additional services vary from dentist to dentist, but the insurance has discounts worth 15 percent off procedures such as root canals and fillings. The discount does not apply at the UB School of Dentistry because their fees are already reduced.
Healthy teeth shouldn't be exclusive to the rich and famous. According to The Washington Post, serious health consequences are not uncommon for untreated dental problems.
Curing a toothache while it's still a toothache and not an abscess will make the US a healthier nation. Do what the tooth fairy says: brush teeth twice a day and see the dentist twice a year, no matter what.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
