Incoming Baylor University President Ken Starr received a warm welcome Tuesday as he was introduced to the Baylor community.

Starr — along with regent chairman Dary Stone; regent Joe Armes, who chaired the presidential search committee; and regent emeritus Drayton McLane — entered the Barfield Drawing Room on Baylor’s campus to a standing ovation.

Baylor Department of Public Safety chief Jim Doak estimated the crowd in the room and waiting outside to be between 800 to 1,000 people, including at least 100 students.

Another 600 people watched a live webcast, Baylor assistant vice president for media communications Jill Scoggins said.

Starr’s address to the crowd drew some laughter — when he joked about how difficult it was to find a Dr Pepper in Washington, D.C. Faculty applauded when he encouraged the ideal of academic freedom and freedom of thought on Baylor’s campus.

“All voices are welcome. . . . We ask only that the voices treat one another with dignity and respect, and that we have a conversation and not a shouting match,” Starr said.

Starr’s introduction featured addresses from Stone; Armes; Buckner International CEO Kenneth Hall, who chaired the presidential search advisory committee; psychology and neuroscience professor Jaime Diaz-Granados; McLane; and retired Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court Thomas Phillips.

Another rousing ovation took place when Stone recognized interim President David Garland for his service since former President John Lilley was fired in July 2008.

Garland will return to his former role as dean of Baylor’s Truett Seminary when Starr assumes the helm June 1.

Starr, dean of Pepperdine Law School, got an unexpected welcoming embrace after his talk.

Several members of Baylor’s notorious NoZe Brotherhood stormed the stage, surrounding Starr. He took the gag in stride, good-naturedly laughing and posing for pictures.

Starr even sported the NoZe Brotherhood’s trademark glasses and fake nose as they presented him with a copy of former president Bill Clinton’s book “My Life.”

Starr, a former judge for the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, has been a controversial figure ever since he headed the investigation into Clinton’s Whitewater dealings and Monica Lewinsky affair that led to Clinton being impeached by the House in 1998.

Scoggins said there was some advance warning of the NoZe Brothers’ presence, but the gag was not a planned part of the event.

Outside the Bill Daniel Student Center, about 75 students gathered, some protesting Starr’s hiring, others in support. Protest and counterprotest signs were waved, and the groups chanted back and forth at each other.

Student Mia Clark protested Starr’s hiring by holding a sign reading, “The Bears have been Baptist longer than the president has,” referring to Starr’s Church of Christ roots.

Clark said she was against Starr’s hiring because he is a polarizing figure and not the unifier she thinks Baylor needs.

“I mean, look at this: It’s not 10 minutes into his presidency, and there are two groups out here protesting,” Clark said, adding that she disagreed with Starr’s support of California’s Proposition 8 banning gay marriage.

Starr supporter Nathan Larson said he would have demonstrated whether or not other students had protested. He said Starr needs the students’ support.

Starr’s reputation as a political conservative fits well with Baylor’s ideologies, Larson said.

Baylor political science associate professor Gayle Avant said he was happy to learn that students were letting their voices be heard.

“In my view, it’s entirely appropriate for students to articulate their preferences with regard to campaign politics, with regard to public policy and certainly with regard to Baylor University governance,” said Avant, who has been at the school since 1971.

“As a longtime teacher of political science, I certainly encourage students to become politically active, and I’m pleased when some students respond to the encouragement,” Avant said.

twoods@wacotrib.com

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