The removal of the Tennessee State University Board of Trustees has alarmed HBCU supporters nationwide. Last Thursday, Tennessee House Republicans voted to vacate the board, as reported by Melissa Brown of The Tennessean. Governor Bill Lee promptly signed the legislation into law and named eight new members to the ten-member board, all alumni of Tennessee State. Per reports, the Republican House supermajority reneged on their prior agreement with House Democrats to retain three current board members.
The state legislature's recent actions follow a prolonged battle for fair funding for Tennessee's sole public HBCU, amidst growing oversight by lawmakers. These legislative moves were not unexpected, with scrutiny dating back to 2022 when African-American students in the state increasingly favored Tennessee State over other institutions.
State Senator Todd Gardenhire made comments in a hearing with now outgoing Tennessee State president Dr. Glenda Glover, asking, “Are we doing a disservice to the other universities on trying to recruit African-American students and minority students because y'all have made such an aggressive promise to these students to come there that they're bypassing getting the same education…”
In an interview with HBCU Pulse Radio in December 2022, Tennessee State University alumni president Charles Galbreath Jr. spoke against Gardenhire's comments in the hearing. Galbreath asserted that Gardenhire's comments could lead to a thought process that could turn into harmful actions toward the institution.
Stream the HBCU All-Star Game on CBS live on Sunday, April 7 at 4PM ET with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan. Try it FREE!
“It's so important for us to remember that simple things that people say lead to mentalities. And when we're just in conversations, we can change our mentality. We can question mentality. But, when those mentalities make their way into the mouths of our lawmakers, they become decisions that guide the future; decisions that can change a path. And so what we want to do is we want to make sure that we are giving correct information to the lawmakers that if they have questions, they have the right questions.
He continued, “Instead of wondering why students would choose Tennessee State University, we want them to ask, ‘What can we do for the students who have chosen Tennessee State University?'”
In comments obtained by HBCU Pulse following the vacating of the Board of Trustees, Galbreath was asked to reflect on Gardenhire's 2022 comments and if they informed the discourse around the institution.
“As the National Alumni Association president, first of all, my job at all times is to promote the image and the excellence of Tennessee State University. And so when anyone and anything attacks that legacy and that image, it's important for alums and especially myself to speak up in those times. And so over the last year, We've been under a series of attacks…If you've been following the stories you know that there are areas that the university could have met the challenges with greater strength. But of course, when we look at areas of funding, of course, when we look at some of the issues of HBCUs across the country, It's hard to meet some of the criteria that they're expected to meet due to lack of resources.”
He continued, “And so when we look at it, a lot of times when we can't pinpoint what an attack is we start making statements. This becomes something that becomes a backroom conversation for some of our legislators and those conversations end up in the public. So I think that in that situation, it was a situation where there was some frustration that some legislators had with the way that Tennessee State University was managed in their eyes. And that frustration leaked out into the public. And,when that happens, it's very offensive. It's very offensive to TSU, it's very offensive to Dr. Glover, and it's very offensive to alumni.”
Alumni reaction to new Board of Trustees, expectations
Although the move to vacate the board of trustees was not met well by Tennessee State alumni, Galbreath says that he and other alumni have faith in the eight new members as they are active members of the alumni community.
“They're business leaders…in their own rights. I've seen their passion for Tennessee State University outside of their roles that they've now been appointed to. They have been voices for Tennessee State University. So I can tell you that the new board members are trusted within the TSU community. I can tell you that the work that they've done for years has been respected and valued within the Tennessee State University.”
He says that he's worked alongside several of the members in other capacities for the institution.
“Several of them I served [with on] the [Tennesee State University Foundation] board. And so, some of those individuals [I] actually [have] served alongside with, and again, I've seen their vision. I've seen their work ethic and their dedication.”
Discussing the responsibility of the new Board of Trustees in to protect and preserve the legacy of of Tennesee State, Galbreath commended outgoing president Dr. Glenda Glover for her dedication to the institution, citing her as a model of an active and engaged alumna. Glover is retiring as president at the end of the school year, a position she's held since January 2013.
“Dr. Glover is the eighth president of Tennessee State University, but more importantly, she is an alumna of Tennessee State University. Tennessee State University has entered spaces, sat at tables, and been part of conversations that will change history for many years to come. Dr. Glover has faced numerous challenges as a president, including those related to leading a historically black university, Tennessee's only publicly funded HBCU, which presents its own set of challenges. Before discussing what alumni can achieve, it's important to acknowledge Dr. Glover as one of our alumnae. She has made significant contributions as she transitions into retirement. It is now our responsibility as alumni to follow her example and actively participate at the table she has set.”
Follow Us
Subscribe