Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 24, 1994                   TAG: 9405240071
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                                LENGTH: Medium

ROBERTSON'S LAW SCHOOL FIRES 3 TEACHERS

Officials at Regent University Law School said there was no connection between the changes and a controversy that erupted last summer when then-law school Dean Herbert W. Titus refused to accept an endowed chair and give up his title. Titus left the school.

``We wanted to change the mix of the faculty in terms of the expertise ...and in terms of the overall collegiality of the group,'' said J. Nelson Happy, who succeeded Titus as dean. ``In order to improve the school, you have to make changes in personnel from time to time.''

``We're returning to our roots of trying to be a Christian university in the broad historical, evangelical tradition,'' said Provost George Selig. ``We're basically coming into our adolescence.''

The school, founded by Robertson in 1986, has about 350 students. About 90 received degrees at commencement exercises last weekend.

Last fall, eight law school professors filed a complaint with the American Bar Association over the circumstances surrounding Titus' departure. The ABA is considering full accreditation for the law school.

Titus' supporters contended that Robertson was trying to give the school a more moderate image to help its ABA review and to advance his political agenda.

Titus was known for staunchly conservative views that, among other things, included challenging affirmative action policies on biblical grounds.

Robertson denied the claim but wrote a stinging letter suggesting that the professors were trying to ``burn down the house'' they occupy.