NEW CONSTRUCTION BEING COMPLETED ON ORU'S 81ST STREET ENTRANCE

By David Brown

Oral Roberts University (ORU) is in the process of constructing several new improvements to the south entrance of the campus on 81st Street. Some of the enhancements include a large sign showing ORU's name, a flagpole and an avenue of trees leading into the campus.

President Rutland originally came up with the idea.

"The 81st street entrance has become our main entrance," said Tim Philley, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for ORU. "We needed to make it look like a main entrance. In addition, we have named the entrance 'University Ave'."

Philley has been instrumental in coordinating the implementation of this new project, along with the director of buildings and grounds, George Perkins and architect Ed Bates.                      
This project will be complete in the next few weeks.

"Really the sign at 81st is part an of ongoing campus beautification plan that operations has put together," said Perkins.
(Photo by Ellen Stines)