Unity marks Baylor regents’ meeting

Posted: 2/9/06

Unity marks Baylor regents' meeting

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

WACO—Unity marked John Lilley’s first board meeting with the Baylor University regents since becoming the school’s president, both he and outgoing Chairman Will Davis of Austin reported.

“Everything passed unanimously,” Davis told reporters after the Feb. 3 meeting—including the confirmation of Jim Turner of Dallas as new board chair and the approval of a new residential complex that will replace a campus landmark. Last year, the regents had named Turner chair-elect. He will assume the chairmanship June 1.

Regents authorized construction of a 700-bed residential complex, approved issuing up to $63.5 million in bonds to finance the project and agreed to raze the Brooks Hall dormitory to make room for the new development.

The Brooks Village residential facility will cost a projected $42.8 million, and an 800-car parking garage will cost about $8.3 million. The balance of the bond issue will finance utility upgrades and property acquisitions.

The complex will include a 120-seat chapel, great hall, dining room, library and resource center and classrooms.

The residential facility will incorporate some external features of Brooks Hall, including its distinctive entry archway.

Brooks Hall—a dormitory built in 1921 that houses 230 students—will be leveled when students move out after the spring semester, and the university will break ground for the new facility soon afterward, Davis said.

“It will be a little tight for one year,” Lilley acknowledged, but he said existing housing will accommodate current Brooks Hall residents.

In other business, regents approved a resolution of appreciation for Bill Underwood, who served as Baylor’s interim president seven months and more than 15 years on the Baylor Law School faculty. Underwood has been named president-elect of Mercer University in Macon, Ga.

During his tenure as interim president, Underwood “began building bridges and restoring unity that paved the way for the 13^th president of Baylor University,” the proclamation said. “Many of his successes are evident in the steps he took to begin the rebuilding of the Baylor community through his openness and transparency that fostered healing for the Baylor family.

“He encouraged others at Baylor to focus less on their differences and more on finding common ground with one another. He sought to calm the waters by creating a renewed sense of shared purpose among alumni, faculty, staff and students.”

At the regents meeting, Lilley also announced the appointments of Reagan Ramsower as vice president for finance and administration and Charles Beckenhauer as general counsel. Both had served in their posts on an interim basis.