University owes residents an explanation of President's firing

I covered the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees for six years in the 1990s, through turbulent times that included academic and athletic program eliminations, proposed facility closures and controversies over academic freedom.

Those challenges of yesteryear all pale compared to the recent bungled firing of UW President Laurie Nichols.

The board chose not to renew the three-year contract of Nichols, who took the job in the wake of turmoil. The South Dakota native came to UW when the institution was facing a serious financial crisis. She had begun to not only stabilize the difficult situ...