I mean, sure.

Firing someone on the basis that you don't like them is basically a lawsuit waiting to happen. Wrongful termination is a Thing. And that's what's happening here, except we get to pay for their dumb reasons, which is why a lot of people are frustrated.

I've only known Columbia under Boyd. I have friends that have lived here far longer, and they tell me I'm lucky - "she doesn't let the board get away with shit" and "it's about time someone put them in their place". Even before articles like the one in the OP, the board has always been painted (to me, in my experience), at best, as people mildly abusing their authority in only their best interests.