TECHNICIAN
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Raleigh, North Carolina
Chancellor, Provost testify today FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SUBPOENA FORMER FIRST LADY MARY EASLEY’S EMPLOYMENT RECORDS University’s top two ranking officials will appear in court today in reference to controversies over Easley’s hiring
hirings Though Nielsen was not considered a candidate for the permanent post until after Mrs. Easley was hired, Oblinger maintains the chronology of the events was coincidental. “He was a popular favorite,” Oblinger said. “I was convinced to bring him in to that pool and he was the hands down favorite.” Oblinger said he didn’t announce Nielsen as interim provost on a whim, adding Nielsen wasn’t among those considered because he wasn’t interested in the job. “I don’t bring someone in to an interim role to just be sure the desk doesn’t blow away. I expect to move things forward,” Oblinger said. “At one time he didn’t feel he was interested in that role. He grew to like that role and on that basis he was willing to come in when he was asked.”
Ty Johnson Editor in Chief
Nielsen, Campbell say no foul play in hirings
BRENT KITCHEN/TECHNICIAN
N.C. State chancellor Jim Oblinger, along with Raleigh mayor Charles Meeker, talks to media following the groundbreaking ceremony for Hillsborough Street’s new roundabout. Oblinger answered questions related to the Mary Easley controversy.
Oblinger announced Nielsen as the selection for the permanent provost position June 27, 2005. Campbell admitted to UNC President Erskine Bowles last week that he
had mentioned Mrs. Easley’s availability for a new job. Nielsen, who repeatedly said he took direct responsibility for the hiring of Mrs. Easley, resigned Thursday, while
EN
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LS Announced as interim provost in 2005, Nielsen hired Mary Easley as an executivein-residence during his interim term. Not originally a candidate for the permanent post, Nielsen was later included in the interviewing process and was hired to fill the post permanently in July.
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Hired in 2005 by then-interim Provost Larry Nielsen, the former first lady received a promotion and 88 percent pay raise in 2007.
Repairs to Bell Tower after lightning strike completed for graduation
ARTSPLOSURE hits Raleigh See page 5.
Lightning struck tower, damaged stone
HOW OFTEN IS THE BELL TOWER STRUCK?
Alex Vaughn
James Semple, director of insurance and risk management for the NCSU Environmental Health and Safety Center, assessed damage at the site after it was struck. Semple said thunderstorm damage to the Belltower is not a new occurrence, but he had never seen architectural damage like this. “Since 1999, the only damage we’ve had happen is the sound system was damaged in a thunderstorm.”
Staff Writer
Tigers sweep baseball in final weekend serires See page 8.
Ishibashi named to ACC all tournament team See page 8.
viewpoint features classifieds sports
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Initial repairs to a corner of the Bell Tower which was struck by lightning were completed May 14 in preparation for graduation ceremonies, according to Jack Colby, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Facilities Operations. A bolt of lightning struck the southeastern edge of the Bell Tower May 5, causing damage to a stone and displacing the capstone and lightning rod located on that corner, Colby said. “It was really one of the loudest things I’ve ever heard,” said Eric Tschudi, a senior in communications. Tschudi was working at Schoolkids Records, located directly across the street from the tower, when the incident occurred. “It was pretty intense,” he said. “It vibrated the whole store.”
TIM O’BRIEN/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO
The top of the Bellower Wednesday morning May 6, 2009 with its damaged facade balanced over the edge. Workers quickly repaired the historic N.C. State tower in time for graduation ceremonies that weekend.
Tschudi said he saw debris falling from the tower following the strike. There are four granite capstones on top of the tower, each measuring roughly three square feet and weighing about 1500 pounds, Colby said. Each capstone has its own
While you’re on campus, visit NC State Bookstores
SOURCE: NCSU ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CENTER
lightning rod, which has prevented damage to the tower during previous lightning strikes, according to Matt Robbins of Finish the [Bell] Tower. “I guess this was little bit more powerful than your run of the mill lightning bolt,” Robbins said. “It hit the lightning rod, popped off the capstone and slid it down, STRIKE continued page 3
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EASLEY continued page 3
FOLLOWING THE EASLEY WEB
JA M E S O BL Campbell told UNC President Erskine Bowles he “mentioned in passing” that Mary Easley was looking for a new job in 2005. Oblinger has said he cannot remember such a conversation, and said his hiring of Nielsen as provost had no connection to Mrs. Easley.
Campbell resigned Friday, one day after Bowles publicly made the suggestion that the NCSU alumnus resign as well. Oblinger says there is “no connection whatsoever” between Nielsen, Easley
Nielsen and Campbell both wrote in their resignation letters that while their stepping down was due to the controversy surrounding Mrs. Easley’s hiring, the two did not act immorallly. “I have chosen to resign because of the intense public attention and criticism from my hiring of Mrs. Mary Easley and now because of questions surrounding the way I was hired as provost,” Nielsen
The former governor, Easley’s relationship with Board of Trustees Chairman McQueen Campbell garnered him perks, from land purchases to private flights in Campbell’s aircraft
A M PBE LL An alum, (Class of 1993) Campbell owns Campbell Property Group, a commercial real estate company. Campbell boasted in many letters to clients of his political connections and ability to get developments approved quickly. The News & Observer recovered documents showing he flew then-governor Mike Easley in his private plane and Easley purchased property near the coast from Campbell.
State implements furloughs University employees won’t be exempt from legislation.
earned, keeping federal and private money from entering the state economy because of Emory Robinson money reserved from paychecks. Correspondent Martin said implementing these pay-cuts keeps money out of Gov. Bev Perdue passed legis- the hands of the people that are lation in April 2009 that enacted spending money to contribute to a mandatory pay-cut for all state the economy. employees, including every Uni“There will be a significant acversity employees. counting cost to implement the The pay-cuts include fur- furlough on non-state fundloughs, which are temporary ing sources, for which the state lay-offs of employees for the will gain nothing.” Martin said. benefit of a company or institu- “These furloughs will be applied tion, and are intended to coun- irrespective of funding source.” teract the state’s Martin said increasing defimoney retained cit. Passing this from the NCSU new legislation budget will not marks the first remain within time in North the University, Carolina hisreserving funds tory that fur- Jason Batt on the University’s is necessary in a lou g h s h ave time where exhalf percent per month been imposed. cess spending pay-cut W hi le t he is unnecessary newly elected and considered Governor believes this is a nec- taboo. essary action to pay off an inMartin said he considers these creasing debt, Jim Martin, fac- furloughs an enormous political ulty chair of the University, said malady on behalf of the office of the legislation is an unnecessary the Governor and may devastate measure. her re-election. “In the end it is Martin said the state is sacrificing time worked and money FURLOUGH continued page 3
“It’s not devastating, but I will notice it,”
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Chancellor James Oblinger and outgoing Provost Larry Nielsen are scheduled to appear before a federal grand jury today along with records detailing the hiring, promotion and compensation of former First Lady Mary Easley. The subpoena is the latest development in a controversy connecting former Gov. Mike Easley to McQueen Campbell, the former chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, and top University administrators. Oblinger said Monday he was not concerned about his job, and said Wednesday the University had no issues with the request for he, Nielsen and the custodian of records to appear in court. “We are cooperating completely with the investigation,” Oblinger said. Nielsen was named interim provost in 2005 and hired Mrs. Easley as an executive-in-residence, teaching three courses. Nielsen, who was not among those considered for the permanent provost position, was added to the list of candidates June 3, 2005, nearly a month after he created Easley’s position and hired her.