Scandal follows Oblinger

The Mary Easley job and its ensuing fallout is following former N.C. State University Chancellor James Oblinger across the country.

Oblinger resigned his post amid shifting stories about the severance package given to former provost Larry Nielsen. Both Oblinger and Nielsen are key figures in unravelling how Mary Easley, wife of former Gov. Mike Easley, got a $170,000 job at the university.

Oblinger is one of five finalists for the job of president of New Mexico State University. Another finalist is former University of Illinois Chancellor Richard Herman, who admitted to arranging admissions to the university for under-qualified family members of politicians and their donors, according to a report in the Round Up, a student newspaper at at New Mexico State.

At least one NMSU faculty member seems less than optimistic about the announcement of Herman and Oblinger.

"I think it is completely ridiculous that the search committee would even entertain the thought of recommending [Herman and Oblinger]," said Kevin McNelis, associate professor of accounting. "I am disgusted the search committee would even think of such candidates."

Administrators who selected the finalists defended the picks to Las Cruces Sun-News.

Del Archuleta, chairman of the committee, said the panel knew of the allegations against the two, and did its due diligence in considering the candidates.

"Even with the situation, the committee felt these two should be considered," Archuleta said. "Why? Because they are outstanding. All five of the candidates are really stellar."