The campus of Tennessee State University in Nashville, the state’s largest historically black university. (Photo: John Partipilo)
After weeks of legislative wrangling, Republican lawmakers in the House adopted the Senate version of a bill to remove all board members of Tennessee State University.
Under the legislation Gov. Bill Lee signed within hours passage, TSU’s current board was immediately be vacated and replaced by a new board appointed by the governor.
Last year, Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower recommended that lawmakers vacate the historically black university’s board after investigating claims that the school admitted more students than it could handle.
Several students and parents filed complaints with the state over the missing scholarship money and off-campus living arrangements, which included renting a hotel for the students. But, the University of Tennessee has also had to use hotel rooms to house students.
Initially, the House version of the vacate legislation only removed half of TSU’s board members. But, Senate leaders have been playing hardball, threatening to let the whole board expire without new appointments this summer if the House didn’t adopt their version.
Overshadowing the TSU debate has been the state’s decades-long underfunding of the college. A federal study found the university was shorted $2.1 billion, while a state study estimated the loss at between $150 and $540 million.
Lawmakers gave TSU $250 million in 2022, but the money can’t be used for campus housing.
Danny Glover, a Tennessee State University administrator, with TSU graduate Odessa Kelly, center, and Amber Sherman from Black Voters Matter outside Tennessee House Chambers during a vote to dissolve TSU's board of directors. (Photo: John Partipilo)
Tennessee State University Student Government Association Vice President Chrishonda O'Quinn calls TSU leaders to tell the the House is voting. (Photo: John Partipilo)
From left, Rep. Harold Love, D-Nashville, prays over House Minority Leader Karen Camper, D-Memphis, and Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis, during a House vote to dissolve the board of a historically Black university. (Photo: John Partipilo)
This story is provided by Tennessee Lookout, a part of States Newsroom, a national 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. See the original story here.