Fisk University is standing by its controversial proposal to build a data center on campus despite growing opposition from students, alumni, and community members.
The proposed data center is part of Fisk’s approximately $1 billion “Quantum Leap” master plan, an ambitious redevelopment effort aimed at modernizing the historic HBCU. One of the plan’s centerpiece projects is a proposed $400 million Innovation & Technology Center. The 100,000-square-foot facility would include 30,000 square feet of academic space and 70,000 square feet dedicated to a data center.
Speaking to ABC News, Fisk President Dr. Agenia W. Clark said the project is about ensuring the university’s long-term financial future.
“Higher ed is in a different place right now,” Clark said. “We’ve got to be innovative, visionary and figure out what it looks like to go forward.”
Clark said the university is still searching for a development partner for the data center and is evaluating designs that would minimize potential environmental impacts.
The proposal has sparked protests, a petition with more than 17,000 signatures, and criticism from some students, alumni and local leaders.
Among the most vocal critics is Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, a Fisk alumnus, who questioned whether the project’s financial benefits outweigh its potential impact on the surrounding historically Black community.
“We’re going to get [$1 billion] allegedly, but at what cost?” Jones told ABC News.
Jones also criticized the university for not publicly identifying a corporate partner for the project and questioned whether a data center could be built without negatively affecting nearby residents.
