Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University's Board of Regents on Tuesday picked the school's No. 2 executive, Andrew K. Benton, to become the next president of the scenic Malibu campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean. "Andrew Benton," said board Chairman Thomas G. Bost, is the "best equipped to lead Pepperdine University into the next millennium with academic excellence and Christian values." The incoming president, as is required by Pepperdine's bylaws, is a member of the Churches of Christ.

Donald V. Miller, who was chairman of the Pepperdine University Board of Trustees for 20 years, died Monday of natural causes at his home in Exeter, Calif. He was 97. Miller worked for United California Bank and later First Interstate Bank when it was acquired by UCB; he retired in 1971 as vice president. He also was for many years an officer and director of the Tournament of Roses Assn., which presents the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena.

The designation of USC President Steven Sample as "engineer-drummer-pitchman" is apt ("No Longer the University of Second Choice," by Kenneth R. Weiss, Sept. 17). "Drummer" is a common term for a "traveling salesman"--the quintessential pitchman. John J. Kuiper Los Angeles Sample says that he doesn't want USC to be the Harvard of the West or the Stanford of the South. I think a more noble aspiration would be for USC to become the UCLA of South-Central. Richard W. Kruse Hollywood We wish to correct impressions made in the Sample profile in reference to Pepperdine University.

While earning her business degree at Pepperdine University, Sara Dakarmen used her new know-how to persuade her husband, Todd, to turn his hobby selling salvaged Porsche parts into a full-time business. Seven years later, Los Angeles Dismantler Inc. of Sun Valley employs 17 workers and generates annual sales of $5 million to $10 million. Dakarmen has always wanted to earn an MBA to better equip her to guide the tidy salvage yard and warehouse, which supplies customers around the world.

About 800 Pepperdine University students fanned out over Los Angeles to clean up roadside and beach trash, landscape school grounds and complete other maintenance projects during a 10th annual community service day, officials said. Faculty and staff also helped with the more than 30 projects included in Saturday's Step Forward Day, said Kathy Hua-Di of the university's Student Volunteer Center.

Pepperdine University has won approval from the California Coastal Commission to expand its law school by 46,000 square feet and build 13 housing units for faculty at its Malibu campus. A university spokesman said this week that the work to add classroom and library space at the law school will begin next month, and that construction of the faculty housing will occur next summer. The state panel approved the projects last week at its meeting in San Diego.

Pepperdine University has received $1 million for its program to attract highly qualified students from under-represented racial and ethnic groups. The gift, from Santa Monica-based National Medical Enterprises Inc., will be used as part of the school's new Cultural Enrichment Initiative, which is designed to attract and retain students from under-represented groups and develop non-Western curricula at the university.

Lodwrick M. Cook, chairman of Arco, and Sanford C. Sigoloff, chairman of Wickes Co., will be the featured speakers at two Pepperdine University graduations Saturday at Firestone Fieldhouse on the university's Malibu campus. Cook will address the graduates at the Seaver College commencement at 10:30 a.m., where about 150 degrees will be awarded. Henri Temianka, artistic director of the California Chamber Symphony, will recieve an honorary doctor of fine arts degree. At the 2:30 p.m.

Re "Pepperdine Defends Its Minority Scholarships," Jan. 22: The Richard Eamer Scholars Program should be upheld at Pepperdine University. Like undergrad Paris Dennard, I am a senior at Pepperdine, but I happen to be white. I have received a substantial financial aid package throughout my college career. Pepperdine offers plenty of awards that are not racially exclusive. I commend Pepperdine for refusing to give up programs that serve underrepresented groups. Pepperdine's undergraduate student body already consists of an overwhelming majority of white students.