Baylor University today named Kenneth W. Starr, the former independent counsel who investigated allegations of misconduct by President Bill Clinton, as its new president.
The appointment at Baylor, the world's largest Baptist university, will take effect June 1.
Mr. Starr, who is 63, has been dean of Pepperdine University's School of Law since 2004. He will succeed John M. Lilley, who was fired by the Baylor University Board of Regents in 2008. In 2005, Baylor's previous president, Robert B. Sloan Jr., stepped down after a stormy presidency.
Baylor's selection of a nationally prominent but controversial president is bound to keep the institution in the headlines for some time. The university has been at odds with its independent alumni group over a number of issues, and faculty members have been divided over the university's quest to become a top-tier research institution while strengthening its Christian identity.
Mr. Starr, a former U.S. solicitor general, was born in the north Texas town of Vernon, where his father was a Church of Christ minister. Although he is not Baptist, he told a newspaper in Waco, Tex., that he planned to join a Baptist church when he arrived in Texas.
In a statement released today, Pepperdine officials said he had raised the stature of the law school and recruited an impressive roster of top legal scholars. At times, however, he created controversy. Last year, Mr. Starr served as lead counsel defending California's Proposition 8, which declared same-sex marriages in the state to be invalid. The California Supreme Court upheld the ban in May. That position prompted protests by some alumni of the law school in Malibu, Calif.
Comments
1. garciad - February 15, 2010 at 04:50 pm
Hmmmm....I wonder "how" he will go about joining the Baptist church? I know it's probably via baptism, but hasn't he already been baptized? Do both churches recognize each other's ordinance? Have his beliefs changed regarding theology(?), as these are two really different churches.
2. willynilly - February 15, 2010 at 04:53 pm
What a complete farce? This appointment is actually laughable. Only in Texas can these unbelievably stupid things occur. Starr came within a hair of being indicted himself. How embarrassed must the faculty at Baylor be?
3. 11272784 - February 15, 2010 at 04:53 pm
Baylor, the only moderate thing I can say is that this does not reflect well on your institution.
4. actlibrary - February 15, 2010 at 05:18 pm
I'd never attend a religious university.
5. latino - February 15, 2010 at 05:39 pm
Shocking, a political clown now hired as President, tag on Baylor community.
6. javelina - February 15, 2010 at 06:22 pm
I invite everyone commenting here to read the very fine blog post by law prof Mark Osler -- who is a member of the ACLU's crack cocaine commutation project. The blog post is at http://oslersrazor.blogspot.com/. If Mr. Osler can not only accept, but respect and value Mr. Starr, then I believe other liberals (like me) can as well.
The fact is, things are never totally black and white. Mr. Starr is neither saint nor demon. And he has had success as a law dean at Pepperdine, so we have every reason to believe he will have similar success at Baylor.
Good luck, Mr. Starr.
7. disembedded - February 15, 2010 at 06:34 pm
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8. history_student1 - February 15, 2010 at 06:58 pm
I attend Baylor and am not necessarily thrilled by this appointment. Nevertheless, I plan to support Mr. Starr as our new president. I especially resent comments 2, 5, and 7. To treat a distinguished university with contempt is insulting to the faculty and students, many of whom are leaders in their fields. I hoped that the readers of the Chronicle would espouse their opinions in a more dignified way.
9. kirbyrecord - February 15, 2010 at 09:35 pm
Pathetic decision--the man is as unscurpulous as the people he prosecutes/persecutes. But it is not the fault of the students and the faculty who didn't support it. One suspects, however, that Starr's typically pragmatic move of seeing the light and becoming a Baptist at this point in life will win over the majority of his flock. After all it's Bible belt territory and Starr knows where his bread is buttered. Just as long as he doesn't rejuvenate the "Christian practice" of identifying witches to burn at the stake but I guess that wasn't the Baptists.
10. tee_bee - February 15, 2010 at 09:35 pm
History_student1: I'd be more sympathetic Ken Starr conducted himself in anything like a dignified way during the Clinton Administration. And the fact that a Baptist university has openly hired the former Pornographer General (1994-1999) invites. The bottom line is that Starr was way out of line in the 1990s, and Baylor has decided, in essence, to endorse his behavior. This does not reflect well on the university, it's leading faculty notwithstanding.
11. history_student1 - February 15, 2010 at 10:42 pm
tee_bee: Well, I will be the first to admit that I was in elementary/middle school during 1994-99, so maybe I'm not as familiar with this period as I should be. My point was that there is no need to slander the university (or the entire state of TX)because of this decision. I do forsee problems with this appointment--and I'm a political conservative. My concerns notwithstanding, I'm going to support Mr. Starr and Baylor 2012.
12. a_nonnie_muss - February 16, 2010 at 02:55 pm
What a way to change the impression that religious schools are for the most part run by and for hateful, unscrupulous, extremists. I have to laugh at the "history student" who admits he knows next to nothing about Mr. Starr's history but is nonetheless eager to support him. Why bother going to school at all if you are so reflexive in your thinking and so eager to tow the party line? If loyalty is more important than facts or ideas why waste your time? Likewise, you can call the school "distinguished" all you want but that doesn't mean people who value things other than blind loyalty are ever going to see it that way. The idea that you think you are a credit to the institution to speak as you do says it all.
13. rightwingprofessor - February 16, 2010 at 03:53 pm
Mr. Starr's service was heroic in a difficult position, with the President of the United States lyinig and obstructing justice to impede your investigation. Let's not forget it was Mr. Clinton who was impeached, Mr. Clinton who was stripped of his license, Mr. Clinton who perjured himself repeatedly to deny justice to Paula Jones during her lawsuit.
14. texasmusic - February 16, 2010 at 07:04 pm
What think thee now, John Wilkerson?
Moving on...it's not a HUGE stretch to move from a Church of Christ to a Baptist church, assuming you're doing it for the right reason. I'd say Mr. Starr is not, but maybe if he actually attends church (and being politically motivated, I'm sure he will), maybe he'll get the message. It's not like moving over from a Catholic Church, or a bigger jump - coverting from a completely different religion, like Judaism or Islam. And most of the Southern Baptist churches I've ever been in have been very welcoming to visitors, regardless of where they come from.
I don't think I'd be in favor of this move if I were affilated with Baylor. I don't think it reflects well and I'm not sure it's going to move them in the right direction. Based on their many recent troubles, it sounds like somebody in charge has forgotten how to pray for direction. I wish them luck.
15. visby - February 18, 2010 at 02:12 pm
Who really cares?