sentences:  In 2001, the Board of Trustees at Auburn summarily dismissed President William Muse, inspiring anger and votes of no confidence in Board members.The widespread belief on campus was that Lowder exerted tight private control over the Board, and thus over the ostensibly public university, using his clout to place some of his close friends in positions of power.Lowder has long been regarded as one of the nation's most powerful college boosters and power-behind-the-scenes trustees at Auburn.