In a brief statement today, regents chairwoman Patricia Lee said the board would again take up that agenda item next Thursday in a continuation of today's special session.

At the same time, the board noted that Honolulu lawyer William McCorriston had joined the regents' legal team. Sources said he has been on the job for about two weeks, although today he would not say when he was hired. "I can't discuss anything," he told reporters. "We're in mediation."

But McCorriston's presence — and reputation as a tough litigator — ups the intensity as mediation goes forward for another week.

The regents offered Dobelle's attorneys a chance to open today's meeting to the public. But his attorneys declined. Mediation is generally confidential.

The regents promised a fuller statement later today.

Dobelle was fired a month ago today in a closed-door evening meeting at the university. He was traveling on the Mainland with his family at the time.

The regents said he was fired "for cause" but have not said what that cause was.

The heated dispute between the two parties went into mediation two weeks ago with former state attorney general Warren Price III as mediator.