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The chancellors of UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State University are in Atlanta, but university officials say it's not just for the basketball.
Along with attending the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament, UNC-CH Chancellor Holden Thorp met with the CEO of a bank, gave a speech at an alumni reception and schmoozed with university donors.
N.C. State Chancellor Jim Oblinger has a similarly busy schedule.
Stephanie Parker, a spokeswoman for Oblinger, said many college events are scheduled around the basketball tournament, which draws college boosters from around the country and substantial media attention.
The heads of the ACC schools and their athletic directors also hold a three-hour annual meeting, alternating between the men's and women's basketball tournaments.
Thorp flew to Atlanta on Wednesday on a state jet usually used by the governor and other top state officials. Also on the flight were his wife, teenage son, pre-teen daughter and three employees who work in fundraising and university relations.
More after the jump.
N.C. Department of Commerce officials haven't quite asked for a refund on their quarter-million dollar jet deposit -- yet.
Commerce Secretary Jim Fain dispatched a letter to jet maker Cessna on Friday explaining that the state was scrubbing its planned purchase of a Citation Encore Plus, tab: $9 million. Last week, when news media inquiries prompted the cancellation, Fain and others made clear they would seek a refund of the state's $250,000 deposit, made in July.
In his letter, though, Fain indicated he'll wait to meet in person before asking for the money back. He made no reference to the money in the letter and wrote that he hoped the early notice would help avoid any "serious impact" on Cessna.
"We would like to sit down with a Cessna representative within the next ten days to discuss the scope of any such impact," Fain wrote, "and the resolution of any outstanding issues."
Department spokeswoman Deborah Barnes said those issues include the refund.