Baylor University Board of Regents Chairman Ron Murff declined an opportunity to address prominent donors and concerned alumni at a town hall meeting next week hosted by the Baylor Line Foundation.

The Line Foundation sent invitations to Murff and to Bears for Leadership Reform President John Eddie Williams and is welcoming the general public to discuss university governance reforms Feb. 15 at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

Bears for Leadership Reform, which also includes football stadium namesake Drayton McLane and former Texas Gov. Mark White, has criticized Baylor regents since the group formed in November, claiming a lack of transparency to the board’s inner workings amid the school’s sexual assault scandal.

Bears for Leadership Reform formally accepted an invitation Thursday.

“Regents talking directly and publicly with the Baylor family is long overdue, and this would be a good first step in beginning to restore trust in their leadership and their handling of this crisis,” Williams wrote in a statement. “The Baylor family has many valid questions and concerns about transparency, accountability and governance, and the town hall presents an excellent opportunity for the regents to address those questions and hear from alumni, students and faculty.”

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