In an unprecedented move, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed a bill into law that dismantles the board of trustees of historically Black college, Tennessee State University (TSU). The decision has sparked anger among black lawmakers, students, and alumni who argue that the move leaves the school in a state of flux.

The calls for a new board at TSU began in 2023 after multiple audit reports highlighted concerns regarding the mishandling of finances, housing, and scholarships. Consequently, a bill was crafted to replace three board members but was later amended to remove the entire board altogether.

A new forensic audit, spanning from July 2019 through June 2023, was released on Wednesday. Although the audit report offered dozens of recommendations and identified "deficient processes," it did not uncover any instances of fraud or malfeasance. However, one day after the audit's release, the Republican-controlled Tennessee House voted in favor of the bill, dismantling the board with a 66-25 majority. Governor Lee swiftly signed it into law.

Governor Lee expressed his satisfaction with the appointments made for the new board, stating that all members are distinguished Black individuals from the Nashville business and political community. The current president of TSU, Glenda Glover, is set to step down in June, and a search for her replacement is currently underway.

However, not everyone is pleased with the events unfolding at TSU. Democratic Representative Harold Love, a TSU alumnus, expressed concerns over leaving the school in a state of flux, especially as the current president is a lame duck. Love stated that the original intention was to vacate only three board members, but conversations among members resulted in the drastic decision to remove the entire board.

The actions have caused uproar among many TSU students, who believe that the changes are too dramatic and could potentially make the school vulnerable to further issues. Students voiced their frustration, asserting that their opinions were not considered before the law was passed. In a protest at the state Capitol in Nashville, students held a banner reading "TSU Take Over."

The TN Assembly members responsible for vacating the board seemingly overlooked the fact that TSU has been chronically underfunded for years, with an estimated shortfall of $2.1 billion according to The Washington Post's analysis of data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The recent audit found that TSU was owed $544 million in land-grant funding dating back five decades, with a $250 million allocation made in April 2022.

Tennessee State University issued a statement, deeming the legislation "unprecedented, unfortunate, and uncharted waters" for any public university in the state. The statement expressed concern that the law would disrupt students' educational pursuits, harm the university's image, and remove a board that had achieved success in enhanced governance.

Last September, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack sent a letter to Governor Lee, highlighting the severe funding disparity between historically Black land-grant institutions like TSU and predominantly white land-grant universities. The National Center for Education Statistics data indicated that TSU and other Black land-grant universities suffered a $12.6 billion funding disparity, with TSU and North Carolina A&T being among the most affected.

Retired school teacher and TSU alumna Ramona Willis expressed her disappointment, raising questions about the billions of dollars withheld from the university and suggesting that the school's issues may be linked to a lack of funding. She emphasized that it is disheartening to see this knowledge being ignored, leading to turmoil within the institution.

As TSU grapples with the aftermath of this controversial decision, stakeholders are left to ponder the future of the university and how it will address the financial challenges that have plagued it for years.