The Drama Continues: Mary Easley to Stay Put [Updated 6pm]

Campus News NC State Administration53

Last night: Link to Bob Jordan’s appointment

Great feature: SFN’s big piece on Oblinger

The drama certainly continues in West Raleigh as the attorney for the embattled former First Lady says she plans to go nowhere, according to the N&O.

“Mary Easley plans to continue making contributions to North Carolina State University and the state of North Carolina,” attorney Marvin Schiller said during a news conference.

Easley stood silently at Schiller’s side but didn’t answer questions.

So far as we can tell, her contributions have been a monstrous addition to the payroll which led to the resignations of the Provost and the Chairman of the Board. Meanwhile, after University officials including the Chancellor were greeted by Federal Agents wielding subpeonas to appear before a grand jury this morning, the University’s spokesman said that the officials needed more time to prepare and did not testify. We’ll certainly keep you informed when they do testify.

Mary Easley continues to be a thorn in the side of not just NC State but the UNC System as well after refusing calls from both the Chancellor and UNC System President Erskine Bowles have publicly called for her resignation.

It is beyond my comprehension how Mary Easley can continue to contribute to NC State with all of these questions surrounding her hiring. And unfortunately for the Easleys, it’s not just questions of her hiring. We mentioned earlier that there are ongoing federal investigations involving Governor Easley’s acts while in office. These include the use of former BOT Chairman McQueen Campbell’s airplane, the use of vehicles provided by private dealerships, and an east coast land deal that’s looking more and more suspicious. While we don’t want to imply that Mary Easley was guilty in her husband’s in-office activity, the involvement of parties at NC State, her future employer, causes us to be skeptical.

It is also beyond my comprehension how Oblinger can effectively continue his roll as chancellor. Where does the buck stop? Oblinger was either ignorant of circumstances of the hire or complicit. Either way the axe falls, it does not look good for the Chancellor.

A new day and a new embarassment for NC State.

Campus News NC State Administration

53 Responses to The Drama Continues: Mary Easley to Stay Put [Updated 6pm]

  1. packplantpath 05/21/2009 at 12:05 PM #

    Sad, but not surprising. Did anybody really think that such narcissistic people would do the right thing for the university?

  2. Daily Update 05/21/2009 at 12:06 PM #

    Don’t forget M. Easley’s own travel expense scandal on the ridiculous trip to Europe she took at the expense of taxpayers.

    SFN:
    Ah, yes, I had actually forgotten about that. I imagine as this investigation unfolds, we’re going to hear more about this.

  3. packof81 05/21/2009 at 12:15 PM #

    It just gets worser and worser. Sleazely is dug in like a tick.

  4. ncsslim 05/21/2009 at 12:29 PM #

    I guess where there’s smoke, there must be fire…..

  5. MP 05/21/2009 at 12:40 PM #

    The book that gets written about this will be worse than “Personal Fouls”. How ironic that (now) many years ago a select few individuals thought that athletics were shaming NC State and took a stand to “put athletics in their place” and “restore integrity” to the university. And here we are all these years later, with our “integrity”.

    I suppose they needed a fall guy then and now. Although it may be “best for NC State” if Mary Easley were to resign, I can’t say that I blame her for not doing so. (1) NCSU hired her (2) She has probably done exactly what was expected of her (3) Now NCSU is trying to take the easy way out.

    NC State really is becoming a floundering mess. There may come a time very soon when it will be impossible to give a crap about anything going on there, athletics or academics or anything, unless there is a major overhaul of the university’s mission in all areas. Maybe State should just become a private school, sell itself to an RTP consortium, and let some business leaders take over the schools operations and marketing.

  6. Texpack 05/21/2009 at 12:51 PM #

    This is step one in the negotiation process for her severance package. She can’t possibly want to work in the environment that will surround her if she stays. She is trying to find out just how badly they want her to go away. If Bowles wants her gone then she could obviously be fired from a political standpoint. This is strictly a money thing.

  7. old13 05/21/2009 at 12:52 PM #

    Again, Oblinger needs to resign now. And if there is a complete house cleaning (as it should be IMO), all high-visibility administrators (e.g., Foulup) should be evaluated closely and dismissed as well as appropriate. (I wonder if/how this all impacts athletics recruiting?)

  8. choppack1 05/21/2009 at 12:55 PM #

    What’s the big deal – North Carolinians have proven at the ballot box last year – regarding Bev Purdue and Jim Black – they don’t care. They like the status quo.

  9. Noah 05/21/2009 at 12:57 PM #

    “I can’t say that I blame her for not doing so. (1) NCSU hired her (2) She has probably done exactly what was expected of her (3) Now NCSU is trying to take the easy way out.”

    Exactly. Quitting would be an admission of guilt. I wouldn’t quit either. If the legislature or school wants to get rid of the position, that’s fine. But there isn’t WAY I would quit right now.

    This, BTW, says nothing about the general level of ineptitude surrounding the positions of leadership at the school.

  10. wufpup76 05/21/2009 at 1:07 PM #

    “There may come a time very soon when it will be impossible to give a crap about anything going on there, athletics or academics or anything, unless there is a major overhaul of the university’s mission in all areas”

    ^I mentioned on another thread that I’m more or less numb to all of this. The efforts to turn the “common people” off to them have been wildly successful.

    Like said yesterday, just shift all the focus and blame onto Valvano and the athletics department and let’s move on. Todd Turner’s vision may yet come true here.

  11. 61Packer 05/21/2009 at 1:08 PM #

    Mary Easley ain’t gonna quit, believe me, and nobody is going to give her the heave-ho from NC State until the money promised in her contract is in her bank account.

    This is a classic picture of higher education in the UNC system. The administrative hogs are all dug deep into their rightful places at the taxpayer trough, and life goes on as usual.

    Oink oink!

  12. TopTenPack 05/21/2009 at 1:15 PM #

    I think it is interesting that we criticize Mary because she got the job because she had political connections. NC State is paying her FOR her connections, not because.

    The Millennium Seminars have brought some high profile people to NC State including Bill Clinton. I am not sure if she had anything to do with Obama holding his Rallies at NC State. With out dollars and connects, none of that would have happened.

    With that said, now that so many people are call for her to step down, she can no longer do her job. She is looking for a face saving (and money making) exit.

    SFN:
    I’m not saying that Mary Easley did anything wrong in taking the job. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being on the receiving end of a quid pro quo that didn’t involve you directly. However, for the sake of the University and the questionable circumstances surrounding her hire, she should step aside.

  13. Mike 05/21/2009 at 1:16 PM #

    Mary Easley sticks around, everyone else resigns. Next thing you know, Mary is Chancellor AND Director of the BOT.

  14. bradleyb123 05/21/2009 at 1:33 PM #

    I don’t blame her for not quitting. I was thinking, when all this came out, that if I were her, I would MAKE the university fire me. Don’t make it easy on them.

    Anybody still think we’re getting rid of Fowler?

  15. El_Duderino 05/21/2009 at 1:38 PM #

    TopTenPack

    I – like you – have no idea if Easley had anything to do with Obama holding rallies at NC State. I do know that a) Obama had a whole bunch of rallies here in Charlotte and b) no one at UNCC is under investigation from the FBI.

  16. eas 05/21/2009 at 1:39 PM #

    Any other place or job would not except “I don’t remember” crap. Plus, it’s bad news when Oblinger publicly admits his memory isn’t very good anymore. What would happen to most people who had a CEO job and said they really just don’t remember as much anymore? Pretty sure retirement or other employment would be suggested.

  17. BJD95 05/21/2009 at 1:41 PM #

    I’m not that surprised, because the Easleys probably need the money. Despite the announcement, I’d be surprised if Mike ever works a day for McGuire Woods, and who in the world is looking to hire either one of them right now?

    This means the shitstorm will not die down anytime soon, which I believe to be very bad news for Chancellor SQ.

  18. bradleyb123 05/21/2009 at 1:47 PM #

    Chancellor “SQ” ?

  19. tooyoungtoremember 05/21/2009 at 2:08 PM #

    Jim StatusQuoblinger

  20. hoop 05/21/2009 at 2:17 PM #

    Oblinger looked like a weak, simpering fool at the press conference the other day… “I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t remember…”

    Then he throws Mary Easley under the bus.

    What a fucking moron. Even Bowles goes out of his way to say nice things about Mary Easley. Meahwhile, Oblinger is throwing her under the bus……. WHAT….. THE….. FUUUUUUUK.

    I do like the fact that she is standing up for herself and the university, unlike the weak fool Oblinger. I have mixed feelings about whether or not she should resign. I hope to god if she tries to stay on longer that they don’t find she did anything wrong.

    SFN:
    Again, we’re not necessarily saying that Mary Easley did anything wrong, but everyone around her and involved with her hiring have either resigned or are being met with a subpoena to testify before a grand jury.

    We’re more looking at this from the perspective of the University that we love. For the sake of it, I hope she resigns. A long and lengthy trial in the media and a courtroom would make this much worse, although the latter may be unavoidable.

  21. BJD95 05/21/2009 at 2:20 PM #

    The Obama rallies didn’t have squat to do with Easley. On primary night, he gave his victory speech OVER EASLEY-ENDORSED HILLARY CLINTON at Reynolds.

    Yes, SQ = Status Quoblinger.

  22. bradleyb123 05/21/2009 at 2:21 PM #

    “Yes, SQ = Status Quoblinger.”

    Gotcha. I was trying to remember any names he has been called. Not sure how I missed that one!

  23. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 05/21/2009 at 2:49 PM #

    I think Hillary thought at one time Easley would make a good VP. He was a Southern Governor, political hack with no real influence. A perfect pick for Mrs. Clinton. If Mrs. Easley stay on, which I doubt, I hope she balances out her ultra-liberal speakers series with more diverse points of views.

    Who pays these ‘speakers’ to come to the university?

  24. BJD95 05/21/2009 at 2:59 PM #

    I believe Newt Gingrich has been part of the speakers’ series, along with several other prominent conservatives. But I don’t follow it closely.

    I always wondered what the Clintons may have promised Easley for the endorsement. I was told by a colleague (in 2007) that Easley that Easley would accept VP slot, as long as he didn’t really have to work to get it.

  25. 66pack 05/21/2009 at 2:59 PM #

    while Duke gets a national champ in w-tennis and unc gets 2 nat champs this year we are blogging about the f–k–g wife of a sleazy professional politician.

    SFN:
    We blog about a lot over here. We’re athletics dominant but we can’t ignore what’s going on here.

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