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Tennessee State's First White "Mr. TSU" Loses Title

By Tricia Kelley and Eddie R. Cole Jr.
Black College Wire

The first white "Mr. TSU" at Tennessee State University has lost the title, and the original student chosen for the honor, who is African American, has been reinstated.

Photo credit: Kenneth Cummings/the Meter Darrius Brooks was initially crowned after the Mr. TSU pageant on Oct. 24.

According to multiple sources, the Student Union Board of Governors made the decision to strip Stephen Morrison of the title because he filed for graduation in May, and would not be able to fulfill the responsibilities of Mr. TSU in the fall.

Darrius Brooks was re-crowned on Nov. 19, and said he planned a string of community service activities.

Both Brooks and Morrison declined to comment on the board's turnaround. Brooks said, "I'm no longer commenting about the position" because "it's not just about the position and name. It's about what you do with your position that counts."

Brooks, a senior engineering major from Chattanooga, Tenn., was initially stripped of the title on Oct. 27 after a recount showed that the first runner-up, Morrison, had actually won the pageant.

Morrison, a senior health sciences major from Memphis, then became the first white student to win the title in the 16-year history of the Mr. TSU position.

The board of governors, which administers the pageant, explained its decision in this Dec. 4 statement to the Meter, the student newspaper:

"Due to scoring irregularities an appeal was made by one of our top two participants, Mr. Steven Morrison. After extensive review of the contestants scores we, the Student Union Board of Governors, had to rectify the situation by de-crowning Mr. TSU, [Darrius] Brooks and crowning Mr. Steven Morrison. We allowed the gentlemen the option of sharing a Co-Mr. TSU role and neither approved. As a result we had to continue with the homecoming festivities and allow Mr. TSU, Mr. Steven Morrison, to represent our University proudly," the statement, signed by Masherrl Conyer, chairperson, and Shemika Williams, co- chairperson, said.

"Following homecoming week, our de-crowned Mr. TSU, Mr. [Darrius] Brooks, requested an appeal concerning eligibility issues of Mr. Steven Morrison. Based on the candidates request we then extensively reviewed this concern and made some suggestions. Seeing that we had already overturned the crowning of Mr. TSU once, we did not want to create more controversy by doing it a second time without going through proper protocol. As Chair and Co-Chair of the board, we decided to sit down with the two gentlemen and hear verbatim how they felt about the situation thus far and what they felt we should do as a Board.

"After listening attentively to the feelings, comments and concerns of Mr. Brooks and Mr. Morrison, and answering any questions they asked, as chair and co-chair, we sat down and [discussed] both appeals between ourselves. We carefully sought a solution that would in some way honor both young men."

In two meetings, "Mr. Brooks and Mr. Morrison were asked to express their opinions and feelings about the Mr. TSU process and out come. They responded to questions from the Student Union Board of Governors and each other." After a vote, Brooks was declared the winner.

Brooks said he plans to help host a youth basketball league game for a team that lacked the finances to continue playing this season. He was recently named an assistant coach of another youth basketball league team.

According to Brooks, a Nashville-area urban fashion store is willing to sponsor the team and will present the team owner with a check.

As Mr. TSU, Brooks said he plans to focus on "the importance of education for today's youth."

He said also wants to begin annual educational tours to Metro Nashville high schools, to coach youth basketball teams, and for the holiday season, to organize a "Secret Santa" program at the Ronald McDonald house.

Ultimately, Brooks said his involvements will all be centered on helping to round out his leadership capabilities and prepare for the annual Mr. HBCU pageant at Lincoln University in Missouri in late February.

"All of this is helping to discipline and help [me] focus on making Mr. TSU a known person in the community," Brooks said.

Students had varying reactions to the developments.

"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."

"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."

"I feel that SUBG was fair to both of the candidates," said Tiara Carter, a sophomore from Seattle, speaking of the Student Union Board of Governors. "I don't think they were wrong in any form or fashion."

Another student criticized the handling of the situation by the board of governors.

"SUBG is just wrong," said Timekia Miller, a sophomore from Fayette County, Tenn. "Point blank, period."

Botswain said a rematch 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."

Tricia Kelley and Eddie R. Cole Jr., students at Tennessee State University, write for the Meter. Cole is editor in chief and Kelley is a staff photographer and reporter. Staff reporters Brian C. Browley and Acquanetta Donnell, and online manager Micheal Hart contributed to this report.

Posted Dec. 5, 2006