<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1997 APR-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> AUG-01-1996 FEB-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1997 APR-30-1997 <CASH> 5,527,577 5,527,577 <SECURITIES> 1,093,802 1,093,802 <RECEIVABLES> 16,181,226 16,181,226 <ALLOWANCES> 2,648,925 2,648,925 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 24,375,877 24,375,877 <PP&E> 28,863,714 28,863,714 <DEPRECIATION> 4,986,468 4,986,468 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 52,071,602 52,071,602 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 18,620,696 18,620,696 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 103,367 103,367 <OTHER-SE> 23,916,021 23,916,021 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 52,071,602 52,071,602 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 94,174,050 34,451,513 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 65,555,120 23,680,618 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 36,369,655 10,480,053 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,690,273 1,133,273 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 438,462 207,302 <INCOME-PRETAX> (4,776,330) 160,939 <INCOME-TAX> 0 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (4,776,330) 160,939 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (4,776,330) 160,939 <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.23) 0.01 <EPS-DILUTED> (0.23) 0.01