Can NC State Recover From the Mary Easley Scandal?

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It has not been a good few months for NC State University. The scandal involving the hiring of former First Lady Mary Easley has engulfed the university in controversy. Three key officials have resigned and the events have left many wondering how the university will recover. Jane Shaw of the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy provides her views on what university officials must do in order to regain credibility and alumni support. Shaw also discusses how the incident has reflected poorly on universities in general by propping up the view that academia is an insulated world that bears little resemblance to the world outside its doors. Then we turn to the ongoing saga of the state budget. As the Democrats who run the General Assembly worked this summer to plug a hole in the state budget, they considered $1 billion or more in potential tax increases. Republicans objected to the proposals. At one point, N.C. House Republicans lined up to share their concerns about higher income taxes, higher sales taxes, and additional taxes on services that never have been taxed before. You'll hear highlights from that discussion. Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue argued that lawmakers needed to raise taxes to protect important government services. Perdue outlined a series of tax proposals that would raise an additional $1.6 billion a year. Perdue justified her recommendations during a briefing for reporters. That's followed by a look at the ongoing investigation into activities involving former Gov. Mike Easley. The case has renewed debate about the accessibility of public records. Napoleon Byars, assistant professor of journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill, has extensive experience with accessibility issues associated with the federal Freedom of Information Act. He discusses that act's importance. And finally, Joe Coletti, fiscal policy analyst for the John Locke Foundation, reacts to news that the state wasted $635 million through poor management of its programs to deliver mental health services around the state. Coletti explains that this is just one of many issues that have plagued the state's program for years, despite intense and expensive efforts to reform its work.