TULSA Okla.
Oral Roberts University officials received notification from the Internal Revenue Service last year of deficiencies in the way the nonprofit school had handled political programs, a spokesman has confirmed.
Three former ORU professors have sued the university, alleging improper involvement in political campaigns, among other issues. The lawsuit alleges that school president Richard Roberts required students in a government class to work on 2006 mayoral candidate Randi Miller’s campaign.
On Monday, school officials denied a request by the Tulsa World for copies of letters between the IRS and ORU regarding an investigation of the university, the newspaper reported. The letters are not public records because ORU is a private institution.
ORU spokesman Jeremy Burton confirmed that ORU was first contacted by the IRS in a letter May 3, 2006.
The letter stated that the IRS was investigating “whether we participated in political programs inappropriately for a 501(c)(3) organization,” Burton said in an e-mail to the Tulsa World.
ORU answered the IRS’ questions and received a follow-up letter with additional questions on July 25, Burton’s e-mail states. The university responded to those questions as well, he said.
