Latest news with #TSU
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
HBCU administrator responds to sexual assault allegations
The post HBCU administrator responds to sexual assault allegations appeared first on ClutchPoints. Texas Southern Athletic Director Kevin Granger is denying all allegations of sexual assault after a lawsuit was filed by Tony Buzbee's law firm. Granger has been placed on leave as the university continues to investigate the incident. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Texas Southern staff member who alleges that Granger groped her vagina and breast and used vulgar language towards her while she was in his office. Granger is being represented by Attorney Letitia Quinones-Hollins, who released a statement saying that the claims against Granger are untrue. 'These are serious allegations, and they deserve a serious response, which we will make at the appropriate time and in court,' Quinones-Hollins wrote. 'In the meantime, I can tell you that no sexual assault occurred, and any indication that it did is false. Dr. Granger is an incredibly well-respected part of the TSU community, and his work there, over many years, has created opportunities for the school and its students that did not exist before.' According to the lawsuit, Granger solicited a staff member for sex when she was in his office, claiming that doing so would 'help her career.' According to the lawsuit, Granger began by improperly feeling the victim down in inappropriate places and inquiring whether she was wearing a wire or filming him. For thirty-two years, Granger has been associated with Texas Southern first as a standout basketball player and then as an athletic administrator. In 2019, he was promoted to the position of athletic director. Granger has not commented on the allegations. On June 3, however, the university issued a press release claiming that it is aware of the accusations and is looking into them. 'Texas Southern University became aware of the allegations involving a senior member of the leadership team following the filing of civil litigation,' said the statement from Communications Manager Kerrigan Williams. 'The University takes all allegations of misconduct seriously, as the safety of our students, student-athletes, and employees is our top priority. As a standard practice, the University does not comment on pending litigation.' On the other hand, Buzbee's sexual misconduct cases against prominent Black men, such as former Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and rap moguls Jay-Z and Sean 'Diddy' Combs, have made him a more contentious figure. Also, on June 3, his office released a statement claiming that Granger used inappropriate language with the victim, who has not been named. 'The Buzbee Law Firm filed suit today in Harris County State Court on behalf of [the alleged victim] against Kevin Granger, Athletic Director for TSU. The case alleges that on April 30, 2025, Athletic Director Granger invited [the alleged victim] to his office. While there, Granger repeatedly asked [the alleged victim] if she was 'recording him' or 'wearing a wire' while he proceeded to inappropriately pat her down. The statement continued, 'The lawsuit further alleges that Granger continued to question [the alleged victim] about her relationship history and if she had ever been romantically involved with a colleague. According to the suit, Granger's questions became increasingly vulgar and graphic. As set forth in the lawsuit, Granger ultimately propositioned [the alleged victim] seeking sex while at the same time groping her breasts and vagina and manipulating her hand onto his erect penis. According to the facts set forth in detail in the suit, Granger told [the alleged victim] if she would comply with his requests, he could 'help her career.' 'The lawsuit further details that [the alleged victim] bravely resisted Granger's advances and was ultimately able to extricate herself from Granger's office. 'Reports have been made with the Houston Police Department, the EEOC, and the Human Resources department at TSU.' Related: Fisk University gymnastics program set to end next year Related: Kenny Latimore & Chanté Moore's son graduates from an HBCU
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Civil Rights plaintiff Rita Geier receives honorary doctorate from UT College of Law
Retired attorney Rita Geier, center, accepts an honorary doctorate from Lonnie Brown, Jr., left, dean of the Frank Winston College of Law at the University of Tennessee, and Donde Plowman, chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (Photo: Emily Siner for the Tennessee Lookout) When former attorney and civil rights pioneer Rita Geier received an honorary doctorate degree last week from the University of Tennessee, it was an odd sort of full-circle moment: The award recognized, in part, her role in suing the university more than half a century ago. 'Her courageous legal efforts not only transformed Tennessee's educational system, but also paved the way for a better society,' said Donde Plowman, chancellor of UT-Knoxville. 'She has left a lasting mark on our state and our country's history.' Geier was the lead plaintiff in a 1968 class action lawsuit against Tennessee's governor and university systems, which alleged that the state was upholding an unconstitutional segregated system of public higher education. At the time, she was both a law student at Nashville's Vanderbilt University and a part-time history instructor at Tennessee State University, then called Tennessee A&I. The university had been founded to provide higher education for Black students at a time when they weren't allowed into any other public universities. Technically, by the late 1960s, the University of Tennessee and other previously all-white universities had eliminated race-based admissions requirements. But they were still almost entirely white, and Tennessee A&I was still entirely Black. Geier says the disparities were obvious in other ways, too: the dilapidated buildings, the low pay for professors. 'TSU was the stepchild of the state higher education system. There's no denying that,' Geier said. She began clerking for a local white attorney, George Barrett, who was seen as a 'troublemaker' in Tennessee for his willingness to take on 'issues that made people uncomfortable,' Geier said. Together, Barrett and Geier crafted a legal theory that the state had an obligation to integrate its public universities. 'I was learning all about civil rights and the legal remedies that were possible. It didn't take long for us to see that there was a tool that could be used,' Geier said. 'And I was the perfect plaintiff.' Similar lawsuits were already in the works over segregated K-12 education, but the state's obligation in desegregating higher education, where enrollment was voluntary, was largely untested legal ground. In their original complaint, Geier and Barrett argued that Tennessee failed to provide appropriate funding to TSU because of its predominantly Black enrollment. It also argued that the state was 'seeking to perpetuate a policy of racial segregation' by expanding a UT extension in downtown Nashville. In the late 1970s, the lawsuit led to the merger of UT-Nashville with TSU — one of the only examples in the nation's history of a historically Black university acquiring a predominantly white campus. State rep balks at sale of Tennessee State University properties But the state's obligation to desegregate public universities continued to be debated in the courts for the next several decades. The final consent decree, in 2001, involved improving TSU's facilities and increasing scholarship programs for Black students across the state. When the Geier case officially ended in 2006 — capping off 38 years of litigation — a judge declared that 'any remaining vestiges of segregation have been removed from the Tennessee system of public higher education.' But conversations over the state's treatment and funding of TSU are ongoing. In 2021, a state report estimated that Tennessee failed to pay TSU at least $544 million in federally required funding in the decades following the end of segregation. Meanwhile, Geier went on to pursue a legal career in government: She became a regional director for the Legal Services Corporation, general counsel for the Appalachian Regional Commission and associate commissioner for the Social Security Administration. After her retirement, she took a position at UT-Knoxville as an associate to the chancellor and a senior fellow at the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
One Year Into Their Successful Collaboration the Texas Southern University Board of Regents and President Look To The Future, Together
HOUSTON, May 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- One year ago today, Texas Southern University's Board of Regents voted unanimously to appoint James W. Crawford III, Vice Admiral and Judge Advocate General of the Navy (Ret.), as TSU's 14th President. "As we launched the search, leaders across Texas shared their affection for TSU as a historic institution and noted the need for leadership to provide strategic focus and to enhance student success metrics. President Crawford met all our criteria, and then some," said Brandon L. Simmons, Chairman of the TSU Board of Regents. "Our board has assumed responsibility for working together — adopting the motto 'One Band, One Sound' — and supporting our President's ability to provide long-term, stable leadership." Reflecting on his first year, President Crawford said, "This first year at Texas Southern University has been a remarkably heart-fulfilling experience. The depth of desire and capability in our students to succeed is awe-inspiring. In collaboration with the Chairman and the entire Board of Regents, we are shaping a vibrant future to make 'excellence in achievement' more than a motto, but a philosophy in action." On his first Legislative Session in Texas, "Walking into the Texas Capitol for the first time, no doubt, everything is bigger in Texas, and I believe that our approach and engagement with the Legislature on bold and transformative initiatives for our students matched the Texas ethos of bold aspirations and expectations," said President Crawford. "I am grateful for all of our state leaders in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government for their substantive engagement with our President during his first session," said Chairman Simmons. "They asked thoughtful questions about academic achievement, faculty excellence, and the status of facilities." As the regular 140-day legislative session comes to an end, important legislation, such as the state budget, is still outstanding. Chairman Simmons said, "While we await the outcome of the Session, we are working to support our President as he implements reforms and upgrades across the university. We have been inspired by Federal and Texas DOGE efforts, and we are currently engaged in what we believe is a first-of-its kind operational and resource allocation review with the aim of improving our ability to increase return on investment for students and taxpayers, as measured by student success and workforce development outcome metrics. We have also launched multiple strategic initiatives aligned with Texas leaders' key priorities, including combating antisemitism through an interfaith partnership with the Israeli Consulate to the Southwest United States and the Jewish Federation of Houston, featuring local and international student and faculty exchanges. This effort builds on a generational relationship between Texas Southern University and the Jewish community of Texas, one that dates back to the university's founding in 1927 and reflects a shared commitment to combating all forms of hate." President Crawford added, "The Legislature has passed very important legislation to ensure that Texas remains a national leader in higher education. The Board and I look forward to working together to implement these policies over the next two years and to returning to the Capitol together in two years for the 2027 legislative session." CONTACT:Tracy Clemons713-313-7371832-986-9101 [cell] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Texas Southern University
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tennessee State University names James Sexton as interim band director
Tennessee State University has named James Sexton as its new interim band director. The historically Black, public university in Nashville announced the move in a May 6 news release. Sexton's new role is a promotion from his longtime position as assistant director of the Grammy-winning Aristocrat of Bands. Sexton said he counts it an honor to take on leadership of the marching band. "I am committed to upholding its proud traditions while enhancing the dynamic performances that define the AOB," Sexton said in the release. James Sexton leads the Aristocrat of Bands during the Tennessee State University Homecoming parade on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. The university also named Dwight Pope as its new director of cheer and dance, where he will oversee the Sophisticated Ladies dance team. "His extensive experience will be invaluable in guiding the continued success and elevation of TSU's dance program while continuing to elevate the cheer team," the release said. The news comes after TSU interim President Dwayne Tucker removed previous band director Reggie McDonald from his position in January. Tucker said the school launched an investigation into McDonald's travel requestions and advances and his compliance with TSU policies and procedures. McDonald, who worked for TSU for 23 years, was ultimately fired from his role as band director but remains on administrative leave with full pay pending completion of due process for tenured faculty. The news of Sexton and Pope's appointments was met with excitement by university leaders. "Both the Aristocrat of Bands and TSU Sophisticated Ladies boasts a long and distinguished history of performances," Vice President for Student Affairs Bridgett Golman said in the release. "They are each a significant source of pride for Tennessee State University and the broader Nashville community." A search for a permanent band director is underway. More information on the Aristocrat of Bands can be found at Rachel Wegner covers education and children's issues for The Tennessean. Got a story you think she should hear? Reach her via email at RAwegner@ You can also find her on Twitter or Bluesky under the handle RachelAnnWegner. This story has been updated to add a photo. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee State University: James Sexton named interim band director
Malaysian Reserve
05-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Moody Foundation Awards $200,000 to Texas Southern University's Future Bankers Leadership Program
HOUSTON, May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Texas Southern University (TSU) proudly announces a generous $200,000 gift from the Moody Foundation in support of the Future Bankers Leadership Program (FBLP) at the Jesse H. Jones School of Business. This contribution further strengthens the program's mission to prepare students for careers in the financial services industry through academic training, mentorship, and hands-on banking experience. The FBLP, launched in Fall 2021, offers TSU business students a comprehensive introduction to commercial banking. Through a formal curriculum, interactions with executives and industry mentors, and commercial banking internships, students gain the critical skills necessary for a successful career in finance. The program has received robust financial and institutional support from banking partners and organizations committed to fostering the next generation of financial professionals. 'We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Moody Foundation,' said Executive in Residence John Scroggins. 'This generous contribution will play a crucial role in expanding the opportunities available to our students and ensuring the Future Bankers Leadership Program continues to produce highly skilled and competitive professionals who are prepared to tackle the challenges and realities of the banking industry from the day they step into their first role.' The $200,000 grant is earmarked specifically to provide financial assistance to students through scholarships and support services, further increasing access to industry-relevant education and training. 'At the Moody Foundation, we are proud to support Texas Southern University's Future Bankers Leadership Program and its commitment to cultivating the next generation of financial leaders,' says Elle Moody, Senior Vice President of Grants at the Moody Foundation. 'We believe that supporting education and workforce development creates lasting impact, and we are excited to see the continued growth and success of the program.' The Moody Foundation joins a distinguished list of organizations supporting the FBLP, including Cadence Bank, Allegiance Bank, First Financial Bank, Frost Bank, Texan Bank, Texas Bankers Association Foundation, Woodforest Bank, and the JHJ Business Advisory Council. The continued investment from these partners demonstrates the growing recognition of the program's impact and its role in shaping the future of banking. Since its inception, the FBLP has made significant strides in preparing students for industry success. The program has achieved a 100-percent pass rate for consecutive cohorts on the Risk Management Association (RMA) Credit Essentials Certificate exam, giving graduates a competitive edge as they commence their careers. The Moody Foundation's contribution ensures the continued success and expansion of the FBLP, solidifying its position as a premier program for aspiring bankers at Texas Southern University. For more information about the Future Bankers Leadership Program or to explore partnership opportunities, please visit or call Muriel Funches at 713-313-6750. About Texas Southern UniversityTexas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. As such, TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation's underserved communities with academic and research programs that address critical urban issues and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. A distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. About the Moody FoundationThe Moody Foundation was established by W.L. Moody, Jr. and Libbie Shearn Moody in 1942 to share their good fortune and make a difference in the lives of the people of Texas. Since then, the Foundation has pledged and awarded more than $2.6 billion in grants throughout the state to organizations that have educated, healed, nurtured and inspired generations of Texans. The Moody Foundation continues with a board of three trustees: Frances Moody-Dahlberg, Ross Moody and Elizabeth 'Elle' Moody. Learn more at CONTACT: Tracy Clemons713-313-7371832-986-9101 [cell]
