Tulsa Topics

Batesline has a recent post regarding ORU students stumping for Randi Miller. Here's an excerpt of the post:

I heard from a couple of trustworthy sources that, following Richard Roberts' endorsement of Randi Miller for Mayor, Dr. Tim Brooker, ORU assistant professor of government, sent an e-mail to his students, recruiting them to volunteer on Miller's campaign. I was told that the e-mail emphasized the need to make ORU a political powerhouse on the local scene. I was also told that ORU gave the Miller campaign an office to use.

I contacted a couple of people I know with ORU connections to see if I could get a copy of the e-mail that was sent to Brooker's students, but had no success.

At first glance, I didn't really think about this much because Tulsa is in the midst of election season. Someone asked me what I thought about Brooker recruiting volunteers for Millers campaign and I off-handedly said... "As long as they get extra credit....." in my usual joking way.

Today, Steven Roemerman at Roemerman on Record has a "smoking gun" post regarding Brooker's recruitment of ORU students stumping for Miller. I can't imagine why ORU would want to jepordize their 501(c)(3) non-profit status with political shennanigans like this, but Roemerman's post looks pretty solid. Here's the trascribed version from Roemerman:

Subject: Attention All Campaigners

Attention All Campaigners

Our ORU reputation has been challenged!!! President Roberts has thrown his support behind Randi Miller for Mayor of Tulsa. The opposition has been quoted as saying that "ORU is a paper tiger" and "they can't deliver what's needed to win this race.". Well guess what, we need to show them just what we CAN deliver.

There are only 50 days until the primary election and we need EVERYONE OF YOU!

There will be team leader positions available along with lots of responsibilities. We have a terrific head quarters to work out of and a caring candidate who will take care of her volunteers.

We need you, and we need you now. Come sign up in the Government office as soon as possible. We have activities starting as early as THIS Wednesday!

HERE WE GO......

Dr. Mr. Brooker & Mrs. Brooker

Dr. Tim Brooker
Coordinator, Department of Government
Oral Roberts University
(918) 495-****

Hopefully someone from ORU can clear this mess up for the Citizens of Tulsa, but if they don't I think this deserves further investigation. I don't think anyone has a problem w/ ORU students working on campaigns of *their* choice, but this is plain WRONG... no ifs, ands, or buts!

So ORU students.... Are you getting extra credit for this?