Use Of University Aircraft At Issue

Under fire over the expenditure of school funds, University of Tennessee President John Shumaker (right) resigned Friday, leaving behind questions about how he used his school credit card and an aircraft that belongs to the University.

Over the summer, Shumaker was questioned about personal expenses charged to his corporate credit card, and about flights he made on UT aircraft that were apparently of a personal nature as well.

"Every day there seemed to be some new embarrassing issue, and it was past time to end it," said Secretary of State Riley Darnell, a member of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Earlier this year, Shumaker reimbursed the university $25,000 for credit card and airplane expenses billed to UT.

That won't be the end of it. UT and the University of Kentucky at Louisville, where Shumaker was president until two years ago, are now doing complete audits of his spending.

"It is in the best interest of the university, its students, faculty, staff and alumni, to move forward and put these controversies behind us," Gov. Phil Bredesen said. "I have to say it pained me as governor to watch this happening."

FMI: www.utk.edu