Last month former University of North Carolina system President Molly Corbett Broad and her husband Bob received the “University Award.” The award is the highest honor in North Carolina higher education and is bestowed annually by the Board of Governors of the 16-campus university. Past winners include governors, philanthropists, university-system leaders and yes — Dean Smith and Michael Jordan.

According to the university system, the award recognizes “the visionary leadership of President Emerita Broad, who retired in December 2005 after more than eight years as the university [system]’s chief administrator, as well as the valuable but uncompensated service Bob Broad provided to the university [system] throughout her tenure.”

It wasn’t too long ago when North Carolina newspapers were riddled with headlines about Broad’s retirement. Yet, amid those headlines, the public was kept hidden from Broad’s true fate. She was, in my opinion, rubbed out, given the boot, told to pack it up, made to walk the plank. It definitely was not a pat on the back.

I worked with Broad for two years when I was a member of the Board of Governors. There, I saw firsthand the tumultuous relationship between Broad and North Carolina’s political elite. It appears to me that instead of retiring, Broad was asked to leave. But you didn’t hear that from the crowd gathered for the award ceremony on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill. As a former member of the Board of Governors, I am still occasionally on the receiving end of “information.”

Before Broad’s official departure, higher education circles were filled with gossip and rumors about her true fate. Some speculated that her exodus was the culmination of a highly orchestrated campaign to oust her, including secret meetings, closed-door discussions and backroom deals. Don’t be alarmed. That is how most of North Carolina’s political decisions are carried out — just look at the lottery.

There is tremendous animosity towards Broad from members of the General Assembly — especially from the leadership. This hatred stems from her no nonsense personality, non-North Carolinian pedigree and her gender.

Broad’s characteristics shined in her first days in office when she refused to meet with influential donors of the UNC system. Unlike the actions of her male predecessors, this was an indication to lawmakers and N.C.’s elite that Broad didn’t play Parcheesi and political kiss-ass games. Broad wanted to send a signal — she was above North Carolina’s good ol’ boy network. I don’t blame her.

Unfortunately for Broad, she pissed off the wrong individuals.

Few believed that someone other than a white male, especially someone with a “black mark” from the state’s political machine could lead the 16-campus university with any success. Despite the odds and many working purposefully against her, Broad succeeded.

In a time of great budgetary restraints, Broad led the university system through record enrollment and programmatic growth. She initiated the state’s need-based financial aid program. And most importantly, Broad shepherded the passage of the state’s $3.1 billion higher education bond referendum — “$2.5 billion in capital construction and renovation on UNC campuses, along with $600 million at the statues’ community colleges.” That is the money responsible for the building boom on campus — new classrooms and labs for you and me.

There is one area where Broad failed — tuition. She is responsible for allowing campuses to raise tuition and fee levels astronomically.

Broad hired new chancellors at almost all the UNC campuses including two at N.C. State — Marye Anne Fox and James Oblinger. Before Broad hired Fox, NCSU was stagnant and our rankings mediocre. Broad refused to only look within the University for leadership and the majority of administrative hires where from out of state. Even though this irked legislators, it was for the betterment of the system and the economic future of the state.

Students may or may not know who or what the UNC President does. But the tale of Broad’s departure is an interesting example of N.C. politics at work. Perhaps if Broad were a white male from North Carolina she would be viewed as a hero and last month’s award ceremony would have been a grand event.

Although it would never have been that great — it was at Carolina.

Send Andrew your thoughts at viewpoint@technicianonline.com.