Change of heart on Oblinger deal

Submitted by janestancill on September 2, 2009 - 3:51pm.
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UNC board leaders originally agreed to a lucrative exit package for departing N.C. State University Chancellor James Oblinger.

Then, they flip-flopped.

During the weekend that he accepted Oblinger's resignation, UNC system President Erskine Bowles cut a deal that would have allowed the former chancellor to keep his $420,000 salary for six months before he settled back into a faculty salary and teaching position.

But last month, the UNC Board of Governors rewrote the terms, cutting Oblinger to a $173,000 salary immediately. Bowles said that the board chairwoman, Hannah Gage, and vice-chairman, Peter Hans, were consulted on the original deal, reports Steve Riley.

"Peter and Hannah did change their minds," Bowles said. "They had their own rationale for doing that. They did what they thought was right. I gave my word, and that's it for me. I did what I felt was right."

At the board's meeting last month, Gage said that the board "acknowledged [Oblinger's] enormous contributions but felt there needed to be consequences for some things that went terribly wrong."

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Re: Change of heart on Oblinger deal

Submitted by google on September 3, 2009 - 6:40am.

http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/what_bowles_told_the_easleys

"...UNC system President Erskine Bowles had conversations with both the first lady and her husband."

What?!?!?!

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Re: Change of heart on Oblinger deal

Submitted by krw127 on September 3, 2009 - 6:38am.

Erskine Bowles says he wants to cut costs associated with the administration of the UNC system. He had the opportunity to cut Oblinger's salary immediately to a $173,000, but he allowed the former chancellor to keep his $420,000 salary for six months. Based on the actions of Oblinger there should have been no question that Oblinger did not deserve the extra pay of $123,500.00. How much extra was Oblinger paid while the Board of Trustees was reviewing the matter?

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Re: Change of heart on Oblinger deal

Submitted by robcamp on September 3, 2009 - 12:32am.

Appropriate consequences for both Oblinger and Larry Nielsen would be dismissal from any employment at NC State. Both lied about their parts in this fiasco and should be fired from any position at NC State. They're both still getting off easy.
I've also lost respect for Bowles for the original deal.

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