By Marv Knox
Like so much about Baylor University, Kenneth Starr’s election as president has been fraught with discord. What is the way forward for Starr and for Baylor?
On one hand, many members of the “Baylor family” and others have praised Starr’s selection. They cite his: International name recognition, active Christian faith, high regard as attorney and judge, unprecedented improvement of the Pepperdine School of Law, advocacy for the rule of law as special investigator in the Clinton administration, skill as a fund-raiser, and lack of ties to Baylor and its decade-long “fight.”
On the other hand, many have criticized Starr’s election. They point to his: Early affiliation with the Churches of Christ, current attendance at a Church of Christ congregation, longtime membership in a non-denominational church that seems more fundamentalist than Texas Baptist churches, affiliation with Southern Baptists who opposed Texas Baptists and Baylor, apparent ease with which he switches denominations, his high-profile investigation of Bill Clinton and his controversial engagement in California’s Proposition 8.
Both sides cite facts and logic. But, of course, human beings cannot be reduced to facts, nor are they ruled by logic. Ken Starr is a human being and therefore more complex than his advocates’ and detractors’ litanies. So, he most likely will be neither the super-hero for which his fans long, nor the evil villain his foes fear. Besides, no matter what fans or foes think, the regents have voted. He will become Baylor’s 14th president June 1.
Ultimately, Starr’s tenure at Baylor will not be judged by the resume he brings to office. His years in the Church of Christ and his experience as special investigator shaped him, but they will not determine whether he succeeds at Baylor. His legacy depends upon what he does at and for Baylor. Here are some goals to which he should aspire:
1. Extend Baylor’s legacy as distinctively Texas Baptist. This is not too much to ask. Baylor would not exist had not Texas Baptists birthed and nurtured it. This also is not parochial. Half of Baylor’s motto is “Pro Ecclesia.” Other schools serve specific aspects of the church — fundamentalist, liberal, evangelical, Catholic. The Texas Baptist/historic Baylor ethos is unique and deserves to be preserved. It’s theologically conservative, but not fundamentalist; expansive enough to welcome students and faculty of other Christian denominations; compassionate to serve all God’s children. Nor is this provincial. The other half of Baylor’s motto is “Pro Texana.” Baylor is Texan, and most of its students and alumni are Texans. Similar schools serve other states and regions. Texas needs Baylor to be uniquely Baylor.
2. Lead everybody, including the regents. Baylor has a strong-willed board of regents. The problem is strong boards are prone to overstep their bounds. Boards should set policy but leave administration to the administrators. Starr must exercise the gravitas of his reputation and provide a pattern for how boards respect the balance of power and duty.
3. Heal the rift. This is crucial; Baylor cannot be all it must be if it remains divided. While fault can be found all around, the primary reason for the divide is the denigration of Baylor’s past. Starr should start the healing by making amends to all alumni as well as to family and friends who love Baylor’s previous presidents.
4. Balance excellence. The root of the recent rift has been an interpretation of Baylor 2012 that implies Baylor’s historic reputation for greatness in the classroom impedes it from becoming a top-tier research institution, which is the benchmark for acclaim. These are not mutually exclusive, and Starr must prove it. He can start by studying the Baylor School of Social Work, which manages both to the Nth degree.
5. Raise money. Baylor needs a $2 billion endowment. If Starr meets the first four goals, this one will fall into place.