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Cravath Hall, Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., May 24, 2008 photo by EVula. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

Fisk board responds to alumi criticisms amid O’Keeffe controversy

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson

Cravath Hall, Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., May 24, 2008 photo by EVula. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
Cravath Hall, Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., May 24, 2008 photo by EVula. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Fisk University Board of Trustees is answering charges from a group of alumni that called for the resignation of President Hazel O’Leary.

The Tennessean reports a letter from the board says the group has been vigilant and responsible in its stewardship of the financially troubled school.

It also defends the idea of selling a 50 percent share in Fisk’s Steiglitz art collection, which was donated to the school by the late painter Georgia O’Keeffe.

It says the board is planning a $90 million fundraising campaign but needs the seed money the art sale would raise in order to pull it off.

The letter is signed by the all the directors of the historically black university. It was released Friday night.

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Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com

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