Gone but not forgotten (because they’re still ripping us off)

One aspect of the ongoing scandal at my alma mater has been the revelation of an institutional culture of administrators openly enriching themselves at the expense of the citizens of North Carolina, who are — they should remember — forced to fund the university no matter what. That includes no matter how removed from responsible, adult behavior the leaders at the state’s largest research university get.

Maddeningly, even when these people are forced out, after a much delayed but still highly welcome spotlight into their shenanigans, they still manage to leech off everyone. Meanwhile, friends, trustees, and boosters talk blithely about them doing nothing illegal and being victimized by the media and even call them “heroes” (I kid you not — read Bob Kennel’s letter; it is hysterical in both sense of the word, which is to say it’s unwittingly hilarious and sounds like it’s coming from a woman with the vapors.)

For those of us on the hook for all these antics, not just mortified NC State alumni but all North Carolinians, the immediate question is: Good grief, when will it all end?

The News & Observer‘s June 9 article on the matter provides the following nuggets (emphasis added):

In 2005, [Larry] Nielsen, then the interim provost, hired Mary Easley. He gave her an 88 percent pay increase last year that took her annual salary to $170,000. The raise violated UNC-system policy, and later the system’s Board of Governors had to review it, and then voted to approve it.

Questions about Oblinger’s handling of Nielsen’s benefit package began last week. Initially, Oblinger said that he had given Nielsen a six-month study leave at his full provost pay, $298,700, which would then fall to $156,715 as Nielsen returned to teaching. … But on Saturday, university officials changed the story, saying that Nielsen would be paid at an elevated level for 18 months. Hours later, they changed the story yet again, saying that a higher salary actually would continue three years.

On Sunday, the university released documents that showed that Oblinger sweetened the deal on the day before Nielsen quit, in apparent violation of university rules.

Oblinger will return to teaching at the university. He will get a six-month leave at his current salary of $420,000. He’ll then begin teaching again, as a professor of food science at the normal salary for that discipline, Bowles said.

Let’s cut to the chase. It is flat-out immoral to get several hundred thousand dollars of taxpayer money to do nothing after you’ve been caught giving your pals hundreds of thousands of taxpayer money to do nothing (or next to nothing, in Mary Easley’s case).

Doing so amid a deep state recession puts these capers in high relief, which may be the only reason that firings and resignations are actually happening for once. The UNC system has long insulated itself from the kind of responsibility and work ethic prized in what staff and students wisely call “the real world.”

A problem throughout the UNC system

Make no mistake: the problem is not unique to NC State. Let me point you to this article from 2003:

The news last fall of sweetheart deals to exiting administrators of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill placed the institution under unsettling scrutiny of its priorities. Those deals amounted to $520,000 plus travel expenses to two former vice chancellors, Susan H. Ehringhaus and Susan T. Kitchen. They came to light after other UNC-CH officials had spent months making the university’s case against any more budget cuts affecting them, on the basis that the university had nowhere left to cut.

Carolina Journal has learned of another lucrative send-off to an exiting UNC-CH official. On May 9, 2002, UNC-CH and Associate Vice Chancellor Evelyn Hawthorne agreed to a termination arrangement in which Hawthorne was sent home but continued to receive her annual salary of $111,625 through July 31. Hawthorne was charged during that time with the task of drafting a strategy, complete with contact information, for how UNC-CH could deal with state legislators, university trustees, and the UNC Board of Governors. Furthermore during that time, Hawthorne could earn an additional $20,000 by devising a public-image campaign for the university. She was also permitted to take her remaining vacation time (261 hours — a little more than two weeks’ worth — as of May 9, but she continued to accrue vacation time through July 31). …

Hawthorne completed this duty by furnishing Kupec with a memorandum under the subject heading “Government Relations Strategy Materials.” The memorandum is dated “July 28, 2002”; however, there is a “Received” stamp on that sheet containing the date “JUL 30 2001.”

Wait till you see what the memorandum contained that cost the citizens of North Carolina at least $20,000 (perhaps the only time the victims of a “Be part of one of America’s Fastest Growing Industries! Earn thousand of dollars a month — from your home!” scam were people other than the home worker). My personal favorite is the note identifying a legislator as a “Retiring Dookie dentist.” That was, no doubt, worth a few grand just by itself.

Unanswered questions

For dismayed alumni and fans of NC State as well as citizens of North Carolina and people who want an ethical public university system they can be proud of, other obvious questions remain: Why this is happening, and why are those who disgraced the university and fleeced the taxpayers still allowed to continue doing so now that they’re no longer in office?

While there will probably not be definitive answers to those questions, SFN’s explanation Tuesday (emphasis added) has an unsettingling ring of truth to it — i.e., the distinct timbre of a nail being hit squarely on the head:

Let me tell you what is REALLY going on here — GREED and GAMING the system.

You see, retirement benefits of state government jobs are set differently than the benefits that those of us in the real world have. For example, an employee’s annual pension is set on a formula based on a certain number of years of that employee’s highest pay.

For example, when a state employee retires they get an annual payment of some percentage of their four highest years of compensation. It is NOT the last four years of service or some kind of average of the entirety of service. So, it is in the self interest of these cronies to be able to bring in as much compensation as they can for a certain amount of years at any point in their career. This is one of the reasons that the world of academia is one of the only industries where former leaders can/will remain employed in lesser roles with lesser compensation. They can ride off and build more ‘years of service’ for other various retirement benefits while sitting idly by with tenure and in a world of no demands.

So, when all of these folks — Oblinger, Nielsen, Easley – are angling for more and more money, even for short amounts of time, the impact of that compensation is not only felt by the taxpayers today but also translates into higher retirement benefits for every year of their life after retirement. Courtesy of the North Carolina taxpayer.

So even after the long-overdue housecleaning of June 8, the situation at NC State and the UNC system is still snafu. (For those who don’t know the acronym, look it up. It couldn’t be more apt.)

NC State Administration Required Reading

46 Responses to Gone but not forgotten (because they’re still ripping us off)

  1. Daily Update 06/11/2009 at 8:17 AM #

    It is amazing that these people can get away with this considering the $4 billion dollar shortfall of the state budget. For Oblinger, the claim that he didn’t remember being involved with the hiring of Mary Easley is obviously bogus. Even if he really didn’t remember, then the handling of the Nielson resignation and the continued lying to the media about the package Nielson was going to receive definitely put him in a situation where he should have been fired for cause. No additional pay and no way he should continue as a part of the faculty.

  2. Alpha Wolf 06/11/2009 at 8:25 AM #

    Beo,

    This was so well written I forwarded it on to Bill LuMaye of WPTF. Perhaps he will read it and quote you on his fairly popular radio show.

  3. beowolf 06/11/2009 at 8:26 AM #

    Thanks very much, Alpha!

  4. bigjohn 06/11/2009 at 9:01 AM #

    This would be a good time for employees throughout the UNC System, and State Government,in general, to ask questions about the unusual deals that unfold around them. It’s tough to speak up when you know your job may be on the line for talking too much, but these “deals” are never totally secret. Erskine, or hopefully his replacement, needs to put something into effect to allow for reporting without job jeopardy.

    I am committed to not vote for any incumbent, in any party, unless I am confident that they are trying to right the ship. Those people have the say about budget for the system, and need to be free of old political deals.

    As to Bob Jordan, I was disappointed by his “nitpicking” comment, and think he should do the short term thing and move on. Clearly, there are plenty of worthy trustee candidates, without political debts, out there.

  5. SaccoV 06/11/2009 at 9:33 AM #

    Bob Jordan, if I’m not mistaken, is the guy who has his name on Jordan Hall, like he’s one to point out the obvious fleecing of the little man. It’s a black mark on the entire university system, and it’s more evidence that the wrong people are continually going to receive positions of power and influence in our university. I graduated in 1998, and to this date I have never been as utterly disappointed with my alma mater than I am right now. No one in power has the fortitude (or willingness) to fire anyone despite clear evidence to reprehensible behavior on the part of university officials. I work at a public school in the triad and am not exactly certain after five years of dilligent and honest service that I will be coming back next year to teach at the same school. I really hope that I can contain myself the next time I see Oblinger, Nielsen or anyone else that has gotten away with six figures.

  6. Noah 06/11/2009 at 9:34 AM #

    The problem isn’t that college officials make a lot of money. The problem is that THESE college officials make a lot of money.

  7. ryebread 06/11/2009 at 9:48 AM #

    On Monday I received an email from the Alumni Association with communication regarding the situation. I sent what I believed to be a well written reply back that stated many of these exact points. In short, I’m extremely disappointed that Oblinger and Nielson were not fired outright given how much they’d done to earn it.

    I believe this scandal has marred public perception of our school, brought to light serious and legitimate questions about the competence of it’s leaders, and ultimately devalued the degrees of the alumni. Like SaccoV said, I cannot remember a time when I was more embarrassed about the school that I attended.

  8. akchopra 06/11/2009 at 10:14 AM #

    Oblinger resigned in disgrace; why does he get a benefit package? I usually associate compensation packages with terminations by the employer, not resignations. Don’t tell me that his contract has a condition that says that if he resigns, he gets another half a million bucks for doing nothing!

    Contracts for all university officials — especially those at the top because it’s a ‘you scratch my itch, I’ll scratch yours’ club up there — must be scrutinized for conditions that reward such “fowlups”.

  9. 66pack 06/11/2009 at 10:20 AM #

    the state government from top to botom is corrupt and that includes the university system.Bowles is the ultimate dem. politician and is in place to be sure that the university system remains and becomes more liberal .

  10. Gowolves 06/11/2009 at 10:23 AM #

    What is really ironic is that some of these same professors/administators receive these sweet heart deals when leaving the university but are the first ones to complain about the golden parachuts given to retired execs and the excess salaries. At least with public companies you don’t have to invest in them. When it comes to govt employees every taxpayer gets screwed.

  11. old13 06/11/2009 at 10:25 AM #

    “As to Bob Jordan, I was disappointed by his ‘nitpicking’ comment, and think he should do the short term thing and move on.”

    He’s already exceeded his useless stay. Anyone in his position who continues to praise corrupt university officials is part of the problem!

  12. packof81 06/11/2009 at 10:32 AM #

    Take a long look at what’s going on with the California state budget. The same thing is likely to happen here. When it does, hard choices must be made. There are likely to be deep cuts to the UNC system. There are already cuts being made to the community college system at a time when demand for retraining is very high.

    Will the people of North Carolina tolerate this flagrant ripoff while we’re in a budget crisis? These crooks should be stewing in a smelly jail instead of being cloistered in an ivy tower.

  13. ncsslim 06/11/2009 at 11:00 AM #

    Do you think that maybe, just maybe, that the problem is slightly deeper than the individuals that are targeted in this scandal? That maybe in the context of standard operating procedures, these sweetheart deals were nothing extrodinary, inspite all the CYA amazement at the moment?

    It appears that the entire further education system is overloaded with tenured positions that do virtually nothing for a (relative) ton of money. And it doesn’t end there; a large number of these people are futher padded by research grant money, for equally little work.

    When everywhere you look it stinks, don’t stop looking. Talk about opening a can of worms….

  14. UpstateSCWolfpack 06/11/2009 at 11:09 AM #

    It is reassuring to know that my bass ackward state of SC ain’t the only screwy state making the news. But at least, so far, you haven’t been embarrassed in the news on a nationally level like South Cackalacky and Sanford.

  15. highstick 06/11/2009 at 11:11 AM #

    What has amazed me for years is that the voters of North Carolina keep electing the folks who either won’t correct the system or are deeply involved in manipulating the system to their own advantage.

    “When everywhere you look it stinks”, get rid of the sources of the odor!

    Question, how many of you feel comfortable about where your donations and support of NCSU are going now? Somehow paying off criminal activity isn’t what I’d had in mind!

  16. beowolf 06/11/2009 at 11:17 AM #

    Do you think that maybe, just maybe, that the problem is slightly deeper than the individuals that are targeted in this scandal? That maybe in the context of standard operating procedures, these sweetheart deals were nothing extraodinary, inspite all the CYA amazement at the moment?

    That was what I was driving at with my middle section. I am persuaded that none of this would have even been an issue if they had not occurred against the backdrop of a severe recession.

  17. LRM 06/11/2009 at 11:26 AM #

    The sheer audacity of all this can only be fully realized when you consider that while all of these assholes were getting massive pay increases and quitting bonuses, teachers like my mom were “volunteered” by our great Governor to sacrifice $200 from their most recent paychecks to pay for it all.

    I’ll let someone else do the math, but that’s a lot of teachers.

  18. ncsslim 06/11/2009 at 11:51 AM #

    Beo, it’s not the recession that caused this issue, it was the late blooming N&O vendetta against the Easley’s. Inspite of ownership changes, the N&O still knows how to get their “man” and any collateral damage that may get in the way, whether it be Mike Easley, Jim Black, Meg Scott Phipps, or more to our memories, Jim Valvano. Alot of dominos fell in each of those cases with the Easley issue only beginning. Most the time, politicians are trained to let news cycles pass (the public generally has an attention span of a six month old poodle), but when the N&O is up your ass, that rule doesn’t apply. They don’t quit until the head is on the mantle, Claude Sitton or no Claude Sitton.

  19. PackMan97 06/11/2009 at 12:06 PM #

    Don’t quote me on it, because I can’t find a link to the story…but I’m fairly certain that I heard on the news this morning that an amendment had been added to the state budget bill that prohibited an employee from drawing the salary for a job they no longer hold unless it is contractually obligated. Now, of course, the question is whether these jobs are handled under contracts?

  20. travelwolf 06/11/2009 at 12:07 PM #

    at the top levels of universities, it’s like a good-old boys club – just like CEO’s and board members of companies. if a CEO gets fired, he still get a huge severance package – thanks to the board members – many of which he appointed.

  21. beowolf 06/11/2009 at 12:15 PM #

    I didn’t say the recession caused the issue, slim; I implied that my belief is that the recession made the revenue plundering by former employees unsustainable.

    Now, if (conditional statement) the thrust of your comments is to blame the N&O for this mess, please tell it to someone dumb enough to believe that hysterical crap.

  22. PackMan97 06/11/2009 at 12:18 PM #

    I agree Beo. I expect to see a lot more stories like this as worker bees who have their heads on the chopping block start rating out waste and corruption to try and save their own necks. It’s very simple, when it’s you or that guy over there…folks will chose themselves every single time.

    There just isn’t the space in the budget any longer to tolerate this type of corruption. Of course, it does make me wonder how much more we could actually cut. If things like this are still going down, there has to be more room to cut the budget.

  23. ncsslim 06/11/2009 at 12:32 PM #

    Beo, I’m not remotely blaming (as if a wrongly directed witchhunt) the N&O, I merely said they are the cause of this investigative fallout and all the collateral damage associated. Surely you’re not missing the point of their on-going vendetta with Mike Easley over some e-mails that he would not turn over late in his term?

    My apecific points are that when the N&O is on you ass, if you’re not totally clean, don’t make shit up as you go (Oblinger, Nielson…), and specifically, they seemingly always get their man, regardless of whatever political clout the “offending” party may have. I look forward to the day Basnight pisses them off; talk about a battle royale……..

    By the way, “hysterics” aside, a good initial article.

  24. WolftownVA81 06/11/2009 at 12:32 PM #

    We’ll, with the recent events, I’ve now lumped the Alumni Association in with the WPC. As far as my donations go – no more until I see real change. It might be unfair to a lot of worthy causes/people but that’s the way it is. Maybe if enough people do the same, the issue will keep some traction until we see new blood and a change of ways.

  25. WolftownVA81 06/11/2009 at 12:36 PM #

    I’m also surprised we have not seen this story go national. Maybe the big networks are waiting for a slow news day to run a State level corruption story.

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