Former TSU financial aid director claims she was fired because she wouldn’t lie for student funds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The former financial director of Tennessee State University is claiming in a new lawsuit against the school she was fired this fall because she wouldn’t commit perjury for scholarship money. Tennessee State University has been under a microscope for the last few weeks after school officials publicly admitted they couldn’t make payroll and laid off more than 100 employees. In a meeting before Thanksgiving, the school told the TSU Board of Trustees that without financial cuts the school would run a $46 million deficit by the end of the year. Former Metro Council person Tanaka Vercher worked at TSU for 21 years. However, the lawsuit stated this fall fell into turmoil for her when it came to distributing financial aid money. You can read the full lawsuit by tapping this link. By federal law, TSU has to verify students’ credentials in what’s called a reconciliation process. Those credentials include a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate. State auditors notified Vercher that TSU had previously provided student aid money to students who did not qualify because they lacked proof of those documents. “The auditors advised Ms. Vercher to verify that students for whom funds are requested...