Former first lady Mary Easley has been fired from her controversial position at NCSU while more e-mails and documents reveal how she was hired and who was initially involved. Meanwhile, North Carolina State University Chancellor James Oblinger has resigned, citing the controversy around the hiring of Easley.

Also, e-mails released by NCSU indicate that former Gov. Mike Easley was involved in the school's hiring of his wife. Those documents, which were released on Monday as a part of a federal investigation, detailed how Easley was hired, including conversations between Oblinger, former university trustees chairman McQueen Cambell and former provost Larry Neilsen.

Oblinger resigned Monday as chancellor.

"I am doing so because that is what leaders do when the institutions they lead come under distracting and undue public scrutiny," Oblinger said in a prepared personal statement. "This is particularly true for leaders of public institutions like N.C. State. The only reason I am announcing my intention to resign is that I am applying to myself the same standards I have asked Mrs. Easley to apply to herself: I am doing it because it is in the best interests of N.C. State University."

Letter To Board of Governors [ .pdf ]

Statement from Oblinger 

Documents provided to U.S. Attorney's Office

Read previous coverage in the Easley investigation

New Trustee Chair Bob Jordan opened a press meeting Monday afternoon praising Chancellor Oblinger saying he always put the university’s interest ahead of his own.  Jordan explained to fellow trustees,  Oblinger is resigning because of the continued distraction over the hiring and salary of former first lady Mary Easley.

"With today's announcement that he will resign, Chancellor Oblinger has once again put the interests of the university ahead of his own," said Board of Trustees Chairman Bob Jordan. "He wants the university to move forward, and that is what we must now do."

Also, UNC President Erskine Bowles said UNC Charlotte Chancellor Emeritus Jim Woodward, an aeronautical and mechanical engineer who taught at NC State early in his career, agreed to serve as interim chancellor.

Meanwhile, the attorney for Mary Easley told NBC-17 Monday evening that he is studying how Easley was terminated. Attorney Marvin Schiller says there is a lot of information to look at and he will have a more detailed and specific response after he is able to study the matter more closely.  He says that response could come in a matter of a day or two, or perhaps take longer depending on how complicated the situation is regarding Easley's firing.

The Brickyard was pretty quiet since N.C. State is only running a summer schedule right now, but the students who were on campus were talking about Chancellor Oblinger's resignation.

"It's hard not to, to be honest with you," said NCSU graduate student Jacob Wiseman. "When the boss of everybody has to resign, there's obviously something going on."

Most students seemed supportive of their out-going chancellor, even if they couldn't agree about his decision.

"He's taking a bold move. That's what I think," said sophomore Chandigarh Singh. "He's being very brave about it."

Others said having to hire a new chancellor doesn't help anyone.

"I'm not sure if he should be taking the fall for this," said junior Christie Hooker-Figgins.

"I respect his decision and I think that if he feels he needs to take the fall that's a good step," said senior Jessica Brooks. "But honestly, I believe that [Mary Easley] is the one who's responsible."

Oblinger said he was stepping down so as not to be a distraction anymore, and whether they approve of the job he's done or not, some students say it was a smart move.

"I think he's doing what he needs to do to help this all blow over," said Wiseman.

In other news, the university also filed its response Monday to the U.S. Attorney of subpoenas for documents related to the hiring of Easley.

Those filings include e-mails, letters, memos and "redacted" personal documents from a variety of sources.

Statement issued by Gov. Bev Perdue:
Today’s announcements are the apropriate steps to enable the University to keep its eye on the prize – education, collaboration, discovery and leadership.   Recent events have become a distraction from the core mission of NC State faculty, staff, and students.  I’m confident in Chancellor Emeritus Woodward’s ability to lead the University on an interim basis and to maintain its focus on excellence in education and innovation.