May 28, 2015 03:43 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Three separate lawsuits filed against North Carolina Central University (NCCU) administrators of racism and improperly using money.

According to WNCN, Marianne Murphy and Frank Smith, two former faculty members at the NCCU School of Business, accused the school's dean, Wanda Lester, of discrimination. Smith, who is Caucasian, and Murphy, a Cuban-American, filed separate lawsuits accusing Lester of discriminating against them because they are not African-American.

While at the historically black university, Smith said he was fired because he is white and Murphy said she was passed over for a promotion and received lower pay due to her race. She claimed the school's chief human resources director, Linc Butler, took her side in her initial complaint, but it never resulted in an investigation.

Kimberly Luse, the former chief of staff to NCCU Chancellor Debra Saunders-White, filed the third lawsuit, WNCN reported. Luse accused Saunders-White of siphoning funds from the school she leads to pay personal expenses.

Luse, who is Caucasian, accused Saunders-White of racism as well, and claimed to have been fired in Jan. 2014 without notice before being replaced by an African-American male.

"The University disagrees with and plans to vigorously and aggressively defend itself against the numerous unfounded allegations contained in the complaints," NCCU spokeswoman Ayana Hernandez said in a statement. "NCCU will not allow such claims to deter us from our mission of providing students with a high quality education in a culturally diverse and enriching environment."

Students who spoke to WRAL about the lawsuits said they were caught off guard.

"Just being around Dr. Saunders, that's not her. That doesn't sound like her," junior Jalen Underhill said.

"I'm waiting to see what else comes from this, but it does put her in a different light," sophomore Saudah Jones said.

Laura Noble is representing all three former faculty members and told WRAL the cases are "not an effort to derail or take down Central."

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