Baylor benefactor calls for reforms, wants open forum at regents’ meeting_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

Baylor benefactor calls for reforms,
wants open forum at regents' meeting

By Sandi Villarreal

Associated Baptist Press

WACO, Texas, (ABP)–After a year of controversy at the world's largest Baptist university, one of Baylor University's biggest benefactors has written a letter to the Baylor board of regents criticizing President Robert Sloan's leadership and calling for an open forum to discuss the issues at the July board meeting.

“I am writing the chair a weekly series of letters that identifies (the issues),” John Baugh, a layman at Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, told ABP.

One will focus on the fiduciary responsibility of regents, and another will be a compilation of the reforms in practices and policies Baugh wishes to see.

A university spokesman declined to comment on the letter, deferring to regents.

Baugh's initial letter proposed opening the meeting to “all of us who love Baylor” in order to examine the current problems plaguing the administration, which he said would include a question-and-answer session with those in attendance.

“The most immediate, basic question with which we are confronted is whether the philosophy and methods that have been employed by President Sloan and his administration … have alienated the major constituencies of the university to the point that new leadership must be put into place for Baylor to strive and thrive in an unimpeded fashion,” wrote Baugh, founder of the Houston-based Sysco Corporation.

Will Davis, newly elected chairman of the board of regents, has not yet said whether the board will approve Baugh's proposal and open the July meeting.

At the May board meeting, Baugh–who carries the title of regent emeritus–addressed the board and warned he would retract gifts given to the university if something is not changed in the current administration.

The Baugh family has donated more than $25 million to the university, including scholarships, study-abroad programs and a $5 million gift toward construction of Baylor's Truett Theological Seminary.

Following the meeting, outgoing board Chair Drayton McLane told the Waco Tribune-Herald the board is confident in Sloan's leadership.

“I've been in business a long time. One of the most difficult things is leadership,” McLane said.

“Doing bold things certainly excites a lot of people. But as change happens, it causes some difficulties. We certainly understand that, but we are sensitive to every group.”

Current Chair Davis and other regents could not be reached for comment about Baugh's letter.

When asked if he would call for another regents vote on Sloan's leadership, Baugh said he didn't “want to get into that dogfight.” Rather, Baugh said, he is writing Davis and the other regents “beseeching them to do what's right.”