Will they never learn? Why must NC State be subjected to another secret chancellor search, with various UNC functionaries saying this candidate’s list is the best ever, trust us? Have they earned that trust? The disgrace that was James Oblinger, who was the secret choice by a search committee that had signed confidentiality agreements, speaks against the practice. So do other universities — every university system, in fact.
The UNC System is the most secretive system in the nation, and the results stink for themselves. A candidate who’s afraid of public scrutiny from the get-go ought to raise suspicion, not be rewarded in being allowed to duck the public entirely. Otherwise, he’s led to believe from the very beginning that he has no need to worry about public scrutiny, and he acts accordingly.
Anyway, here’s the same ol’ same-old from UNC, which astute readers might recall is a public university system:
The search committee for a new N.C. State University chancellor has given a list of three finalists to UNC system President Erskine Bowles, who pronounced himself thrilled with the candidates.
“This pool is terrific in every way,” Bowles said.
Bowles said he was interviewing the candidates and would likely make his recommendation to the UNC Board of Governors – which has the final say – at the board’s Jan.8 or Feb.12 meeting.
NCSU and system leaders are keeping candidates’ names secret, saying that is the only way to ensure the best pool of applicants.
No, it’s the only way to ensure they get the proper yes-man to wink and nod at their ongoing shenanigans, treating the university like a place to create sinecures and golden parachutes for all their buddies. They don’t want another Marye Anne Fox coming in and trying to root out all the deadwood. Running her out of town was such an unpleasant business. We’ve got a good thing going at NC State; we don’t need public scrutiny to screw it up!
P.S. Why does the press put up with that?
