This time next week Mary Easley will not have a made-up job at NCSU. Mark it down.

All of her protectors have been cut loose as the UNC system claws back some of its dignity and respect. The sad thing is that it took hundreds of column inches from the N&O to prod folks to do the right thing.

Erskine Bowles knows this thing stinks to high heaven and will not tolerate this circus much longer. Plus it gives him the opportunity to get rid of a boatload of cronies and replace them with educators. If he can find any.

Bonus Observation: McQueen Campbell is a doofus.