Brian C. Browley
Senior Staff Reporter
Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: Campus News
Photo Credit:
Kenneth Cummings
Opinions on the Student Union Board of Governors' (SUBG) most recent decision to re-crown Darrius Brooks as 2006-07 Mr. TSU vary among the student body, one-day after an official statement was released on Monday, Dec. 4.
Brooks initially won the title following the Tuesday, Oct. 24, pageant, but was stripped of the title on Friday, Oct. 27, after a recount of the five judges' votes showed that first-runner up Stephen Morrison, a white student, had actually won the pageant.
Morrison, a senior health sciences major from Memphis, following the recount, was the first white student in school history to win title in the 16-year history of the Mr. TSU position.
SUBG issued a statement published in The Meter on Monday, Dec. 4, explaining the details of the
second reversal of the already controversial 2006-07 Mr. TSU title. Following an appeal that was made by Brooks concerning the eligibility of
Morrison, the statement states that SUBG offered both "the option of sharing a Co-Mr. TSU role and neither approved." As a result, the board voted on whether Brooks or Morrison would serve as Mr. TSU. Brooks won SUBG's vote.
"I don't have a problem with Darrius Brooks as Mr. TSU," said Thea Botswain, a sophomore pre-veterinary major from Fairfax, Va. "He's well qualified and I don't think it was as big of a controversy as people made it out to be."
Botswain did, however, say that she felt the initial recounting of the votes that gave Morrison the crown "was the right choice."
Multiple sources close to The Meter stated SUBG chose to strip Morrison of the title due to the fact that he filed for graduation for May 2007, and would not be able to fulfill the responsibilities of Mr. TSU in fall of 2007. Yet, several students stated that they felt the initial outcry following the striping of the title from Brooks was due to the fact that Morris a white student.
"I don't feel it had so much to do with Stephen being a graduating senior from the university,"
said Demetria Dailey, a sophomore from Jackson, Tenn. "I really feel that it had more to do with race. Tennessee State University does not want a white representing the school."
Some students, however, voiced their support of SUBG's decision to give the crown to Brooks.
"I feel that SUBG was fair to both of the candidates," said Tiara Carter, a sophomore from Seattle, Wash. "I don't think they were wrong in any form or fashion."
Another student felt that SUBG's handling of the situation had been less that stellar.
"SUBG is just wrong," said Timekia Miller, a sophomore from Fayette County, Tenn. "Point blank, period."
Botswain said a do-over between Brooks and Morrison would settle the issue once and for all.
"A face-off, a mini-Mr. TSU," Botswain said. "Double check all of the judges scores, and the controversy of Mr. TSU wouldn't be so outrageous."
Acquanetta Donnell and Micheal Hart contributed to this report.
Posted By: Jehan Bunch
Wednesday, January 3rd 2007 at 3:19PM
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