NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Tennessee State University staff, students and alumni have announced a list of demands they believe could save TSU from further financial problems.

The group of TSU supporters gathered Thursday evening to share their demands.

TSU faculty and alumni said they will demand two ways they believe the university’s board of trustees could save TSU, but they are not just making demands, they are also attack disinformation.

“If we don’t show people that we care, then why should they care,” one TSU alumnus said during Thursday’s meeting.

To inspire community care, TSU alumni, faculty and students came to Progressive Baptist Church to share their thoughts on the state of the university.

“I can’t teach my students because they have a hard time buying their textbooks, they have a hard time knowing what classes they’re supposed to take, they have a hard time knowing what their housing assignments are going to be, and all of that is tied to short-term funding,” said Cynthia George, leader of United Campus Workers.

The group talked about the university facing years of financial problems. State leaders recently told the school they were out of money and the school’s interim president, Robert Johnson, had to make budget cuts. Johnson then fired 114 employees and instituted some budgeting systems before announcing his resignation.

Carol Campbell, a professor at the TSU Nursing School, also shared her shock at Johnson’s decision.

“It’s really devastating to be in the state of Tennessee for so many years. I have seen the university prosper, and right now we are struggling,” Campbell said:

The TSU Board of Trustees has announced plans to discuss replacing Johnson, but some alumni said they need to talk about more than just filling the role.

TSU Zeta Alpha Alumni Association President Barry Barlow led the meeting.

“What we want is implementation of the plan to restore underfunding,” Barlow said.

Barlow was referring to a five-year plan that this group says it is presenting to state leaders. It requires the state to give TSU unrestricted funding increases to help repay the $2.1 billion that state records show was hidden from the university.

“In five years we can stop having these meetings, we can stop having this conversation,” Barlow said.

A TSU student has spoken out to lobby for student rallies and the student body’s need to dispel misinformation.

“Trying to make sure the misinformation stays limited and not just spewing this and that or absolutes,” the student said.

Teachers also talked about a hiring freeze, so the group added a request that the board implement a layoff freeze to protect TSU’s education system as much as possible.

The group said they plan to fight for change for as long as it takes and pray that TSU’s board meeting Friday morning ends with some hope.

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