STARR MUM ON VOTES IN PEPPERDINE VISIT.

Byline: Yvette Cabrera Daily News Staff Writer

Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr was in an upbeat mood Friday, hugging and shaking the hands of well-wishers at Pepperdine University just hours after learning that President Clinton was acquitted of impeachment charges.

Starr, who attended a luncheon and board of visitors meeting at Pepperdine, showed no signs of disappointment after the verdict was read, according to those around him. Later that afternoon as he left the campus, he spoke highly of the university, but would not touch the topic of impeachment.

``I don't think I should be commenting at all,'' said Starr, as he left Pepperdine's administration building. The board of visitors serves as an advisory board to the law school's dean.

Last spring, Starr turned down deanships at Pepperdine's school of law and school of public policy, choosing instead to continue with the investigation into the Whitewater dealings and Clinton's relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Starr said he was fortunate to have taught at Pepperdine twice, but joked that he hadn't been invited back to teach or been offered a deanship since he turned down the university's offer in April.

``It's a wonderful administration, they have a terrific faculty, but at this stage I have other responsibilities,'' said Starr, who has accepted a teaching position at New York University, according to a Pepperdine spokesman.

City Attorney James Hahn, also a member of the board of visitors, listened to the tally on the impeachment vote as he drove to the meeting and delayed his exit until the final vote was announced.

Minutes later, the first person Hahn encountered as he walked into Pepperdine's administration building was Starr.

``He seemed nonplused,'' Hahn said. ``He really didn't comment at all.''

Shortly after the acquittal, Starr addressed those gathered at the meeting by reading a quote written by Ulysses S. Grant in a letter to his wife, Hahn said. In the letter, Grant addressed rumors that he was ``drunk as a skunk in the saddle'' while commanding his troops during the Civil War, said Hahn.

``Notoriety has no charms for me,'' Starr quoted Grant as saying.

``And then he thanked everybody for their support,'' said Hahn.

Taking in the scenic view of the Pacific Ocean from the Malibu hills on which Pepperdine is perched, Hahn said he wondered whether Starr regretted not taking the deanships positions at Pepperdine.

``I think of how his life would have changed. It wouldn't have been a hard decision for me,'' said Hahn, who had Starr autograph his board meeting program.

Many of Pepperdine's students said they had no idea Starr was on campus, but first-year student Chris Welch caught a glimpse of Starr on Friday morning in the administration building a few hours after the verdict.

``He smiled and said hi to everybody and we clapped for him,'' said Welch, 19. ``I've seen him around (on television) and it's the first time he's been able to crack a smile. He's been in such turmoil.''

Though not all students knew of Starr's visit, there was a buzz around campus from students who did know, Welch said.