A small group of Fisk University alumni have signed a letter requesting the resignation of president Hazel O’Leary in part because of her role in the school’s efforts to sell the Alfred Stieglitz art collection.
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The letter also questions why the university’s board of directors supports her decision-making.
Lucius Outlaw Jr., who is now a professor at Vanderbilt University, was among nearly 20 alumni that signed the letter, which was shared with the university’s faculty over the weekend.
The letter, which was obtained by The Tennessean, began by stating confidence has been lost in O’Leary’s leadership and that "she should be asked to resign."
"As well, we have serious concerns about the collective wisdom of the board of trustees in apparently endorsing and supporting decisions made by and the performance of Ms. O’Leary that imperil the university," the letter said.
Outlaw said the letter asks two of the university’s top board members to explain why they’ve been supportive of the president’s policies "and convince us that you too should not step down."
Fisk spokesman Ken West did not immediately return a call to the AP seeking comment.
To fend off bankruptcy, the historically black university wanted to sell a 50 percent stake in its Stieglitz art collection for $30 million to the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark. Fisk has argued it is a financial burden to maintain and display the 101-piece collection donated by the late painter Georgia O’Keeffe.
Earlier this month, a judge ruled that Fisk can sell a share of the collection, but the bulk of the proceeds must go to an endowment for the display of the artwork.
The ruling by Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle said Fisk can keep $10 million of the funds for the university and the remaining $20 million would go into an endowment that would support the cost of displaying the artwork.
Lyle said in her ruling that this plan meets O’Keeffe’s wishes to have the artwork in Nashville and provides money to support the display even if Fisk closes. O’Keeffe donated the art to Fisk in 1949 because the school, founded in 1866, educated blacks at a time when the South was segregated.
O’Leary later said in a statement that she was pleased the ruling allowed the university to sell the share, but said the $20 million endowment was excessive.
Outlaw said Wednesday that O’Leary failed to initiate a strategic plan for the university, that should also include a campaign to raise longterm funds for the university.
He said some alumni are simply frustrated.
"We’ve got to do something," Outlaw said.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.