TSU alumni group demands changes from state, Board of Trustees
The group said they’re planning to fight for change for as long as it’s needed.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Tennessee State University staff, students and alumni announced a list of demands they believed could save TSU from further financial issues.
The group of TSU supporters met Thursday night to share their demands.
Teachers and TSU alumni said they’d be demanding two ways they believe the university’s Board of Trustees could save the TSU, but they aren’t just making demands, they’re also tackling misinformation.
“If we don’t show people that we care, then why should they care,” a TSU alumni said at Thursday’s meeting.
The push for the community to care was why TSU alumni, teachers and students came to Progressive Baptist Church to share their thoughts of the state of the university.
“I cannot teach my students because they’re struggling to purchase their textbooks, they’re struggling to know which classes they’re supposed to take, struggling to know what they’re housing assignments are going to be, and all of this is connected to the short-term funding,” United Campus Workers leader Cynthia George said.
The group talked about the university facing years of financial issues. State leaders recently told the school they were out of money and that the school’s interim president Robert Johnson had to make cuts. Johnson then laid off 114 employees and instilled a few budgeting systems before announcing that he was stepping down.
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TSU Nursing School Professor Carol Campbell also shared her shock about Johnson’s decision.
“It’s really devastating having been at Tennessee State for so many years. I’ve seen the university thrive, and right now, we’re struggling,” Campbell said,
TSU’s Board of Trustees announced plans to discuss replacing Johnson, but some alumni said they need to talk about more than just filling the role.
President of TSU’s Zeta Alpha Alumni Association Barry Barlow led the charge of the meeting.
“What we do want is the implementation of the underfunding restoration plan,” Barlow said.
Barlow was referencing a five-year plan that this group says they’re taking to state leaders. It demands the state give TSU increments of unrestricted funding to help pay back the $2.1 billion they say state records show were kept from the university.
“In five years, we can stop having these meetings, we can stop having this conversation,” Barlow said.
A TSU student took the stand to push for student rally’s and the student body’s need to dispel misinformation.
“Trying to make sure that misinformation is at a very small point and not just spitting out this and that or absolutes,” the student said.
Teachers also spoke out about a hiring freeze, so the group added a demand that the Board of Trustees implement a firing freeze to protect as much of TSU’s education system as possible.
The group said they’re planning to fight for change for as long as they need to and praying TSU’s Board of Trustees meeting on Friday morning ends with a bit of hope.
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