Wearing Fitness Trackers Now Mandatory For ORU Freshmen

[oklahomamick]

http://www.newson6.com/story/30920656/wearing-fitness-trackers-now-mandatory-for-oru-freshman

TULSA, Oklahoma -

­­­­­­Oral Roberts University is now requiring all freshmen to wear tracking devices to monitor their physical activity, the school says.

While wearing Fitbit technology is a pioneer program, the university previously required students to manually log aerobics points into a fitness journal, it says.

"ORU offers one of the most unique educational approaches in the world by focusing on the Whole Person – mind, body and spirit," a statement issued by ORU President William M. Wilson said. "The marriage of new technology with our physical fitness requirements is something that sets ORU apart. In fact, when we began this innovative program in the fall of 2015, we were the first university in the world to offer this unique approach to a fitness program."

The school, which is a private institution, says Fitbit fitness tracking now is required for all incoming students, and ORU has opened the program up to all students.

A Fitbit device tracks a person's activity with GPS technology, including exercise, food, calories burned, weight, sleep and times those things occur.

According to the ORU website, it appears as though school staff and instructors will be able to access the fitness tracking information gathered by the students' devices.

"The Fitbit trackers will feed into the D2L gradebook, automatically logging aerobics points," the website says.

The school says more than 550 of the Fitbit devices (average price of $150) have been sold in the on-campus bookstore, with many more purchased through other retailers.

"Before this breakthrough on the campus in Tulsa, the University successfully integrated wearable technology in their online programs. The university inspired and encouraged all online students to track physical activity through wearable technology in the spring of 2014. This allowed them to save, plan and share progress," the website says.

This year's freshman class is the first required to use the fitness tracking devices.

The university reportedly has set a requirement for each freshman to log 10,000 steps per day.

[Just Sayin]

http://www.newson6.com/story/30920656/wearing-fitness-trackers-now-mandatory-for-oru-freshman

TULSA, Oklahoma -

­­­­­­Oral Roberts University is now requiring all freshmen to wear tracking devices to monitor their physical activity, the school says.

While wearing Fitbit technology is a pioneer program, the university previously required students to manually log aerobics points into a fitness journal, it says.

"ORU offers one of the most unique educational approaches in the world by focusing on the Whole Person – mind, body and spirit," a statement issued by ORU President William M. Wilson said. "The marriage of new technology with our physical fitness requirements is something that sets ORU apart. In fact, when we began this innovative program in the fall of 2015, we were the first university in the world to offer this unique approach to a fitness program."

The school, which is a private institution, says Fitbit fitness tracking now is required for all incoming students, and ORU has opened the program up to all students.

A Fitbit device tracks a person's activity with GPS technology, including exercise, food, calories burned, weight, sleep and times those things occur.

According to the ORU website, it appears as though school staff and instructors will be able to access the fitness tracking information gathered by the students' devices.

"The Fitbit trackers will feed into the D2L gradebook, automatically logging aerobics points," the website says.

The school says more than 550 of the Fitbit devices (average price of $150) have been sold in the on-campus bookstore, with many more purchased through other retailers.

"Before this breakthrough on the campus in Tulsa, the University successfully integrated wearable technology in their online programs. The university inspired and encouraged all online students to track physical activity through wearable technology in the spring of 2014. This allowed them to save, plan and share progress," the website says.

This year's freshman class is the first required to use the fitness tracking devices.

The university reportedly has set a requirement for each freshman to log 10,000 steps per day.

Oral junior received a message from God to do this or die.

[vu84v2]

Oral Jr must be channeling Orwell.

[agibson]

Oral Jr must be channeling Orwell.

Definitely scary.  Fun data, maybe, to have available for the students. And I could imagine using it for contests, or something.

But, any idea of it being available, with sleep data, etc. to university personnel seems pretty horrible.

I don't know what to think of fitness logs, or practice logs, in general.  They seem like an invitation to cheat.

[VU75]

Ironic that it's Oral Roberts given that many in the Pentecostal movement have linked cell phone technology to the mark of the beast.

[StlVUFan]

Did you notice they're requiring them to *buy* them?

[vu84v2]

It would be fine if it were offered as an option to students,  and it would be fine if there were incentives for 10,000 steps per day or whatever. But requiring it so the school administration can monitor the student? A ridiculous school overseen by a ridiculous family.

[bbtds]

FYI, Richard Roberts and his wife, Lindsay, were divorced from ORU after they were charged with excessive personal spending by the ORU board from funds allocated to the university. Richard, Oral's son, is still chairman and CEO of Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. Richard officially stepped down from ORU and was immediately elected president emeritus for life. He has no power within the ORU power structure.

Richard had been a fairly normal kid until a huge event in his life.............

While at the University of Kansas, Roberts gets sick and had to go to the hospital, possibly needing surgery. The surgery was avoided but soon after returning from the hospital, while alone in his room, he heard a voice, coming out of nowhere, telling him he is in the wrong place. "Where am I supposed to be?, he asks. The voice says, Oral Roberts University. In the Fall 1967, Roberts dropped out of the University of Kansas and enrolled in Oral Roberts University. In 1968 at the age of 19, two weeks before his birthday, Roberts dedicates his life to Jesus Christ and he joined his father's ministry as a singer on television and in crusades.

On January 27, 1993, the Board of Regents elected Roberts as the second president of the university.

Roberts recognizes the importance of the Athletic Program for national prominence and student recruitment. In 1993, Roberts makes a number of changes in the athletic program hiring Bill Self as head basketball coach. Roberts changes the school mascot from the Titans to The Golden Eagles and hires Mike Carter as the new Director of Athletics.

As president of the university, Roberts began incorporating the university and students as part of the crusade/healing rally team.

In October 2007, three former professors filed a lawsuit against Oral Roberts University and named the entire ORU Board of Regents, Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association, Roberts, his wife and several university administrators as co-defendants. As a part of the suit, additional allegations were made including: university resources were illegally used by Roberts to help a Mayoral candidate's election campaign, Roberts misappropriated university funds for a daughter's trip to the Bahamas, was maintaining a stable of horses at university expense for the exclusive use of his children, used university staff to do his daughters homework, remodel the university owned residence, that Roberts lived in, 11 times in 14 years, allowed the university to be billed for damage to a university owned golf cart damaged by his children and personally acquired two vehicles, a Mercedes and a Lexus, through ministry donors. Roberts responded by saying, "This lawsuit ...is about intimidation, blackmail and extortion."

A few days later, the suit was amended alleging the university's financial comptroller had been fired; additionally amended stating "Witnesses have reported voluminous materials and documents were shredded and destroyed, constituting spoliation of evidence."  One month later another wrongful termination lawsuit is filed against the university by a former ORU accountant, Trent Huddleston, that was employed for less than one year, claiming he had been ordered to help Roberts and his wife "cook the books" by misclassifying over $120,000 in funds, allegedly spent by the university on remodeling the university home that Roberts lived in.

On October 17, 2007 Roberts asked for and was granted an indefinite leave of absence from the school by the university's board of regents, citing the "toll" the lawsuit and attendant allegations have taken on him and his family. In a statement Roberts said, "I don't know how long this leave of absence will last... I pray and believe that in God's timing, and when the Board feels that it is appropriate, I will be back at my post as President." Billy Joe Daugherty of Victory Christian Center was named executive regent of the board of regents and interim president. Chairman of the board of regents George Pearsons noted the temporary resignation was not an admission of guilt.

On November 13, the tenured faculty of Oral Roberts University approved a nonbinding vote of no confidence in Roberts. The vote was nearly unanimous according to a professor in attendance.

Roberts tendered his resignation to the university's board of regents on November 23, 2007, effective immediately. In an emailed statement he said, "I love ORU with all my heart. I love the students, faculty, staff and administration and I want to see God's best for all of them."

On January 14, 2008, the ORU Board of Regents voted unanimously to name Richard Roberts president emeritus in honor of his work during 15 years as president.

I remember when in the middle of a Mid-Con tournament game the students extolled President Roberts to call off classes because they were winning a game easily and wanted to be able to attend the next game in the MC tournament. Richard conferred with a VP and then gave the students the thumbs up which signified that classes would be called off. The students roared with happiness.

[StlVUFan]

I remember when in the middle of a Mid-Con tournament game the students extolled President Roberts to call off classes because they were winning a game easily and wanted to be able to attend the next game in the MC tournament. Richard conferred with a VP and then gave the students the thumbs up which signified that classes would be called off. The students roared with happiness.

I remember that too.