PROVIDENCE — An apologetic Ralph R. Papitto, former chairman of the board of trustees at Roger Williams University, yesterday asked that his name be removed from the law school he helped found in an attempt to “mitigate the damage” caused by his use of a racial slur at a board meeting.

“A continued public discussion and debate over the name of the law school serves only to further damage the university,” Papitto wrote in a statement delivered by Michael Trainor, a public relations consultant. “… Therefore, and as a reflection of the sincerity of my regret and of my deep commitment to Roger Williams University, I have today asked the board of trustees to remove my name from the law school.”

Papitto’s request followed five days of mounting pressure and calls for him to disassociate himself from the law school by students, faculty and minority leaders. A story in Saturday’s Journal disclosed Papitto’s use of the racial epithet, n-----, during a discussion at a May 2 trustees’ meeting about the need to add more women and minorities to the board. The story also reported the recent ouster of three trustees, upset about the slur, who had called for Papitto’s resignation May 9.

Papitto, 80, stepped down July 9 after serving as a trustee for 39 years, the last 20 as chairman. Yesterday, groups that had called for his name to be removed from the law school said Papitto had made the right decision.

“…We are pleased that Mr. Papitto is taking full responsibility for his actions,” said student organizers Matthew Jerzyk, Majessire Smith and Kim Ahern, who gathered more than 180 signatures on a petition. “This is an important victory that sets our law school on a better course for the future.”

University President Roy J. Nirschel issued a campus-wide e-mail in which he thanked Papitto “for making what must have been a difficult decision, but one that is in the best interest of the university to which he has devoted so many years of his life. His role in founding the only law school in Rhode Island should not be underestimated or diminished in any way by the recent turn of events.”

The new chairman of the board of trustees, Richard L. Bready, said: “On behalf of the board of trustees and the university administration, I accept Mr. Papitto’s request ….,” according to a statement issued by the RDW Group. “While we are deeply grateful that Mr. Papitto has chosen a course of action that is unquestionably in the best interest of the school and its community … there exists a measure of sadness that his long association with the school comes to this end.”

PAPITTO WENT on two local talk-radio shows Monday to apologize for using the racial slur. He said he never used the word before and had heard it for the first time in a rap song. He also criticized two of the trustees who had called for his resignation, Dr. Barbara H. Roberts and Sally E. Lapides, and said they were not thrown off the board in retaliation.

Tuesday, Papitto hired Trainor.

Yesterday at 2:15 p.m., Trainor delivered Papitto’s statement at the Providence office of Papitto’s new lawyer, Joseph Cavanaugh. Papitto was not present because of his age and poor health, Trainor said.

Papitto retains his emeritus status, which means he can attend board meetings, although he no longer has voting privileges, Cavanaugh said.

“I deeply regret the pain that this remark has caused those in the African-American community and other minorities,” Papitto said in the statement. “…Second only to the regret I have for the hurt this has caused in our African-American community is the dismay I have at the damage it has caused to the university I have loved and served for nearly 40 years. I apologize once again to the entire university community and for the cloud that this controversy has created around Roger Williams University.”

Papitto, who founded a Fortune 500 company, Nortek, has given $2.8 million to the university, according to university officials, and pushed for the law school to be created in 1993. In 1996, the board of trustees told Papitto of its desire to name the school after him, and then voted on the matter, according to Mike Doyle of the RDW Group.

Yesterday, members of the minority community praised Papitto’s decision, but said the incident raised concerns about a lack of diversity on Roger Williams’ governing board. They demanded the reinstatement of the three trustees who were removed: Roberts, Papitto’s former cardiologist; Lapides, owner of Residential Properties; and philanthropist and estate planner, Joseph A. Caramadre.

“It goes to show that the truth always prevails,” said Rep. Joseph S. Almeida, D-Providence, chairman of the Rhode Island Minority Legislator/Leadership Caucus. “We’re glad for Roger Williams University and we’re glad for so many people this affected. People wanted to talk about this issue, express their feelings, and this is what came out of it.”

Clifford R. Montiero, president of the local NAACP, criticized the university’s board of trustees, which removed its only two women members. “How long has the board not thought it necessary to have minority and women?” Montiero asked. “Why are there not more women on the board of directors? America is a diversified society.”

As part of the shakeup of the board, the university has recruited 11 new members, including alumni, women and minorities, Nirschel said, although he is not yet ready to announce who they are.

IN A JULY 2 LETTER to Roberts, Papitto acknowledged he had received a copy of her memorandum where she repeated her complaint about his conduct and demanded his resignation. Papitto warned Roberts against exposing the incident, saying he would take legal action against her if she went public.

“Neither I, nor the university I have long served and love will succumb to threats,” the letter states. “… Please understand that any attempt to take action which harms Roger Williams University in favor of personal purposes will be considered a malicious disregard for your fiduciary responsibilities and will be dealt with legally, squarely and vigorously.”

At the July 9 board of trustees meeting, Roberts was told she was off the board.

When asked for comment yesterday about Papitto’s apology and decision to remove his name from the law school, Roberts offered this statement:

“My only comment is that I think Mr. Papitto did the right thing.”

With reports from staff writer Tom Mooney

jjordan@projo.com