WACO, Texas (AP) _ Baylor University President Robert Sloan survived a no-confidence vote brought on by questions about his leadership following the summer slaying of basketball player Patrick Dennehy. The school’s Board of Regents voted Friday to keep Sloan as head of the world’s largest Baptist university after faculty members urged his ouster in a no-confidence vote. Baylor has been shaken by the Dennehy murder, the arrest of former player Carlton Dotson on murder charges in the death, and the ensuing disclosure of major NCAA violations in the basketball program. The 36-member Board of Regents reviewed a motion by the Baylor Faculty Senate urging Sloan’s ouster and a letter from five regents seeking Sloan’s dismissal. But the board overwhelmingly voted to keep Sloan during a closed meeting. The Faculty Senate’s no-confidence motion, passed Tuesday, had cited a climate of fear under which anyone considered disloyal to the administration risked losing their job, hope for tenure or other benefits. Sloan, who has headed Baylor for eight years, denied the allegations. On Friday, Sloan thanked the regents for their reaffirmation of his leadership. “This has been a very long and hot summer, and I have to say the whole experience has been a very humbling experience,” he said, surrounded by most of the board members. Supporters praised Sloan for quickly accepting the resignations of basketball coach Dave Bliss and athletic director Tom Stanton and putting the program on voluntary probation. But critics say Sloan shares in the blame and needs to go.
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