In the midst of an ongoing sexual assault scandal involving Baylor University’s football team, Ken Starr resigned as Chancellor “as a matter of conscience.” However, Starr will continue to teach at Baylor Law School.
Prior to his appointment at Baylor, Starr was appointed judge to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and served as the United States Solicitor General under former President George H.W. Bush. Starr also authored a report pertaining to former President Bill Clinton’s extramarital involvement with Monica Lewinsky. The report served as a catalyst for Clinton’s impeachment. Starr joined Baylor University as the University’s President in 2013.
In June of 2014, Baylor defensive end Sam Ukwuachu was indicted on two counts of sexual assault. Ukwuachu transferred to Baylor from Boise State after an incident of violence against a female student. In August of 2015, Ukwuachu was found guilty of sexual assault and reports surfaced that Baylor’s former football coach, Art Briles, was aware of “the circumstances surrounding Ukwuachu’s departure from Boise State.” In September of 2015, Baylor’s Board hired law firm Pepper Hamilton LLP, to conduct an external investigation into Baylor’s “handling of cases of alleged sexual violence.”
In April of 2016, another Baylor football player, Shawn Oakman, was arrested on charges of sexual assault. Oakman was not disciplined by Baylor. Baylor’s lag in response time in responding to police reports regarding alleged sexual assault and Baylor’s failure to “investigate, or adequately investigate allegations of sexual violence” were criticized.
In May of 2016, Baylor’s Board received a full report from Pepper Hamilton. “Horrified by the extent of… acts of sexual violence on [Baylor’s] campus, the Board promptly fired coach Briles, demoted President Starr, and sanctioned athletic director Ian McCaw. After Starr resigned from his position, McCaw followed suit and left the University.
“In hindsight,” Briles said, “I would have done certain things differently.” Attempting to save Baylor’s football program, the Board hired Wake Forest coach, Jim Grobe. However, the scandal has completely collapsed and tainted Baylor’s football program. Already, Kedrick James, Jayden Peevy, Donovan Stiner, Hezekiah Jones, and Kellen Mond have de-committed from Baylor University.