Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs Jeremi Suri wrote for CNN last week on public universities.  

Suri writes that the recent loss of several public university leaders is a symptom of two opposing pressures working against these institutions; government officials cutting funding and faculty that are unwilling to compromise their teaching and research privileges.  University presidents and leaders are caught in the middle of this struggle and are the easiest targets.  See the full article for Suri's proposed solution.