Friday’s UNC Board of Governors train wreck was set in motion back in January, but it wasn’t inevitable. Chairman John Fennebresque could have applied the brakes before running off the rails. Instead, he accelerated. Now, tremendous damage has been done and many people have been hurt — not least a former U.S. secretary of education who might have become the next UNC president. Or still might.
The fiasco began when Fennebresque “botched President Ross’ termination,” in the words of board member Thom Goolsby. Greensboro native Tom Ross was forced out by Fennebresque in an action that wasn’t authorized by the board or explained to the public. While the board approved a settlement that left Ross in office for a year, some members felt they’d been manipulated.
Discontent simmered as a search for Ross’ replacement was launched. Again worried they’d be denied meaningful input, several board members approached legislators with concerns. The result was Senate Bill 670, passed in late September with large majorities, which required the search committee to present at least three final candidates to the board. The bill has remained on Gov. Pat McCrory’s desk, unsigned.
Thursday, Fennebresque called an “emergency meeting” of the board to meet with one candidate. The News & Observer of Raleigh, citing unnamed sources, reported it was Margaret Spellings, secretary of education for President George W. Bush.
This drew a swift response from Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore, who wrote to board members warning against circumventing the will of the legislature. “Our concern is not about any candidate for the presidency but rather the process ... at least a few members of the Board have utilized that appears to cut against the fundamental notions of transparency and procedural due process.”
No matter that Berger and Moore routinely disdain transparency and procedural due process. They were right to step in, even without an enacted law.
Board member Marty Kotis of Greensboro, who has called for Fennebresque to step down, questioned the validity of the “emergency” meeting and said no action should be taken.
Goolsby wrote to the chairman, saying he was doing a “grave disservice to the university and your candidate by moving forward. ... No matter how qualified, anyone advanced under your chairmanship would be fruit from a poisoned tree.” Other members expressed similar positions.
Friday, the search committee tried to apply damage control: “We fully understand President Berger’s and Speaker Moore’s view that the recently passed Senate Bill 670 requires that the full Board of Governors consider the names of at least three final candidates,” it said in a statement.
The board met in closed session for most of Friday afternoon and took no official action. The law says at least three candidates must be “submitted” to the board. Its next scheduled meeting is Oct. 30. What might happen next is unclear.
Vice Chairman Lou Bissette, a search committee member, assured board members in an email Thursday night that the final candidate “has the ability, energy and savvy to lead this System to the heights that we all envision for our beloved University.” Good. But that sounds like a decision has been made, which is a problem. The full board wants, and deserves, more input.
This has turned into a train wreck for the entire state.
