A sage of North Carolina higher education, Bill Friday was president of the UNC system from 1956 to 1986 and a founding co-chairman of the Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.

For the past forty years, the UNC system’s 16 universities have upheld the state constitution’s mandate to keep the cost of education affordable.

Holden Thorp is trying to walk a straight line in the changing world of higher education. As the University’s 10th chancellor, he, like every other chancellor who has come before him, has had to balance present emergencies with a vision of UNC’s future. And he’s no stranger to emergencies.

The most powerful couple on campus started at age 12. Growing up in Fayetteville, Holden and Patti Thorp were cast in a production of “Peter Pan.”

Not many people celebrate their 90th birthday on a college campus. But not many people are like William Friday — the man who devoted one-third of his life to serving as president of the UNC system.

The N.C. Scholastic Media Institute hosted a UNC icon and legend on Tuesday. And although it may not have been someone most student attendees were familiar with, he delivered a strong message.

Former UNC-system President Bill Friday chatted with Gov. Mike Easley Wednesday night about North Carolina’s future and his plans to improve education and deal with a burgeoning population. About 30 people attended the interview, which was part of the Tuesdays with Friday series at the 10th anniversary celebration of the William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education.