Baylor denies rumored ouster of Ken Starr after report on school's handling of campus sex assaults
Baylor University is denying reports that its board of regents has ousted Ken Starr from his job as school president.
As of now, Starr is still at the helm as president and chancellor of the Waco, Texas-based school, university spokeswoman Lori Fogleman told the Associated Press in an email.
“We will not respond to rumors, speculation or reports based on unnamed sources, but when official news is available, the university will provide it,” the email says. “We expect an announcement by June 3.”
Earlier news reports relying on unidentified sources said that Starr had been fired by the university board of regents after an investigation by Pepper Hamilton of claims the school had not done enough to respond to at least six accusations of rape by women student between 2009 and 2016, according to the Daily Beast and the Washington Post (reg. req.).
Some complaints involved football players, and a civil suit was filed earlier this year alleging that the school was “deliberately indifferent” and violated Title IX when the reported being raped by then-football player Tevin Elliott in 2012. Elliott was convicted of the sexual assault in 2014 and is now serving a 20-year sentence.
Pepper Hamilton investigated at Baylor’s request and issued a report and briefed members of the board of regents on its findings earlier this month, the Associated Press reported at the time.
“The Baylor Board of Regents continues its work to review the findings of the Pepper Hamilton investigation, and we anticipate further communication will come after the Board completes its deliberations,” spokeswoman Tonya Lewis said in a written statement provided to Fox News.
Starr is best known for his role investigating former President Bill Clinton’s relationship with Monica Lewinsky in the 1990s and serving as Whitewater independent counsel. He also served as law school dean for Pepperdine University before joining Baylor.
Starr was formerly a member of the ABA Journal’s board of editors.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Ken Starr to Leave Law School Deanship to Become Baylor President”
See also:
ABA Journal: “Meet the lawyers behind high-profile investigations”
