Monday, March 30, 2009
Tutu Lee is running for student body president. To get his girlfriend back.
At least, that’s what he says in a YouTube video released March 24. The video, which describes student politicians as “sycophantic resumé builders” before leading into a montage of Lee and his vice presidential candidate, Rahul Desai, shooting handguns in a field, already has more than 1,000 views.
Lee
He has not yet been approved to run by the elections commission, but Lee, Manhattan senior, said he didn’t need the elections commission to approve his candidacy. He said his bid for the presidency would not be the typical Student Senate campaign.
“We don’t need to fucking park ourselves on Wescoe Beach and harass people like we’re selling fucking Girl Scout cookies,” Lee said. “That’s absolutely insane. There’s no common sense in that, but that’s what characterizes these elections.”
Ask Lee why he is running for Student Senate and you probably won’t get a straight answer. He’ll tell you he doesn’t care about Senate and he doesn’t care about the student body and he definitely doesn’t care about the other coalitions.
“I’m running in a sense, because I came to this epiphany, this recognition, that in order to do good sometimes you have to engage in the evils of this world, and I think Student Senate most certainly deserves that description,” Lee said.
Lee, however, has been involved with Senate since he came to the University through various campaigns and also comments frequently on Student Senate articles on Kansan.com.
“I think he has been involved with it because he does care,” said Jack Connor, Overland Park senior and Lee’s former roommate. “Say what you will about it being a stunt or whatever, but he’s still running for Student Senate. If he didn’t care about it I don’t think he would be doing it.”
Connor, off-campus senator, said he thought Lee, a quantitative psychology major, understood how to run elections better than almost anyone else in Senate.
“He always has an objective in mind,” Connor said. “In some ways he’s the most rational person I know. He can completely think through a problem and find the most reasonable answer.”
Lee said this campaign was no exception. When asked if he was being deceptive or duplicitous, Lee responded without hesitation, yes.
“I am being completely manipulative and everything I’ve done, this entire campaign is, I would say, nominally well thought out.”
Lee’s campaign has already raised suspicions within University administration as well as discomfort among the student body. They said specifically that they were concerned with the presence of guns in Lee’s YouTube video.
KU spokeswoman Jill Jess said the University did not condone the content of Lee’s video, but respected his first amendment right to produce it.
“It’s violent,” said Sarah Bluvas, Atlanta junior and elections commission chair. “If you see someone saying they want to run for a public office and then spending two or three minutes on a video that you post online, that anyone can watch, at a shooting range, it raises questions. It makes you wonder what is this person really capable of.”
After conversations between members of the elections commission and the vice provost’s office, a decision was made to have a police officer sit outside an elections commission meeting last Tuesday and the Senate meeting Wednesday.
Lee said he didn’t intend for the guns to be intimidating or scary, but instead as a way to show something unique about himself that he enjoys.
When asked to sum up his campaign, to define a purpose, Lee will still avoid giving a straight answer.
“I know you have to wrap it up. You have things to do,” Lee said. “You want a message, a mission statement, Tutu Lee thinks this. Doesn’t work this way. Here, write this: I’m confused. Tutu Lee’s confused. He doesn’t know what’s going on. Tutu Lee’s confused. Or: I’m a mystery. An enigma. Wrapped in a riddle.”
Lee plans to appeal on Tuesday the elections commission’s decision to not allow him to run for student body president.
Lee’s video can be seen by searching YouTube for “Free State Campaign Red Band Trailer.”
— — Edited by Jesse Trimble
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Comments
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
GREAT video.
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
Stunning. There needs to be a Kansan Hall of Fame to place his reply in.
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
Dear Jayhawk2009,
You muh-muh-muh-make me hap-pay!
Simply yours, Tutu Lee
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
Violence against what, targets?
The families of those young targets will never be the same again.
I blame the folding chairs.
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
Free State Campaign Red Band Trailer by tutulee
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
Hi, Brianne! I know you read this. That's why I'm writing you here.
I'm not from Overland Park. I've never stayed a single night there. I told you that I would not answer your question about my origins and somehow you thought Francesca Chambers (who just happened to be outside the conference room) knew better than I where I'm from. If you believed that an individual from a rival coalition would be a better source about me than, well, me then you should interview them next time instead.
And right now, I'm listening for the second time to these two voice recordings of our interview that one of your friends provided to me and no where do I hear myself making any statement about not needing the elections commission to approve of my candidacy. Could you direct me the time code for when I say this? I'm confused. I mean, I'm not confused. I'm sure you were just in the heat of the moment and thought that this would be the kind of thing I would say.
Also, why did you wear that magenta shirt on Thursday to our interview? I think white is a much more flattering colour on you, even if you do prefer the darker eye shadow.
'slǝǝɥ ɹǝʌo pɐǝɥ Tutu Lee
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
Wow, it just gets crazier every year!
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
God help us.
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
I've known Tutu since high school, and though he has an image that can be construed as violent, he's actually one of the nicest guys you could meet. Sometimes he has the mouth of a sailor, but he's very intelligent and is one of the few people I trust to actually get anything done while serving as a student body president. If anything, he'll keep the rest of campus entertained!
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
You mean you want God to help us elect Tutu Lee? They ARE both from Overland Park, so he has a pretty good shot with all those connections.
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
The campaign drama just keeps getting better and better!
I wish Tutu would have run last year. His campaign really makes this race more entertaining.
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
“I’m running in a sense, because I came to this epiphany, ... ,that in order to do good sometimes you have to engage in the evils of this world, and I think Student Senate most certainly deserves that description,”
What high-minded, self-aggrandizing, trivial non-sense. There are real evils in this world: destructive and exploitative greed, the global sex trade, resource wars. How about saddling up and taking on one of those? Challenging the manufactured "evils" of Student Senate certainly qualifies as one of the least significant moral crusades I've ever seen.
If Tutu's was as cunning as he thinks he is, he'd redirect his creativity and intellect towards more significant endeavors.
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
I think Tutu's actually taking this more seriously than anyone else. He's using real media to get his message out rather than resorting to sidewalk chalk or inviting me to lame keggers.
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
The only thing that worries me more than an individual that has absolutely no legislative experience in Student Senate politics is the idiotic notion that he might win. People who keep posting on this in a positive light are falling to see a sad trend in our society that 'moronic' equates to 'interesting'. As a student senator who has never had a notion of holding either the VP or Presidential slots, it disgusts me that someone might actually vote for someone that's campaigning with absolutely no idea of how Senate runs, or even what civic virtue is.
It seems to me that Jack is using his words (and he has so many of them) to back up a candidate that lacks even an idea of what he's getting into.
Oh, and TuTu's video clip of him shooting on the range is pathetic. Clearly it's important to be prepared to leap from your lawnchair to shoot pistols at onrushing paper targets at all times with no hint of ducking to avoid incoming rounds, or even an attempt to at least move while he's shooting. At least if we need a warrior/attention-whore to lead Student Senate through the next installment of the '28 Weeks Later' chapter, we'll be taken care of.
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
Tutu doesn't need "legislative experience in Student Senate politics", any body with a brain can handle what is thrown at the Student Senate. And how do you know he wasn't involved in school politics back at "Overland Park".
As a student senator who has never had a notion of holding either the VP or Presidential slots, you obviously don't care about civic virtue if you are just going to step aside and let somebody waltz in. People like you need to be replaced with people like Tutu who will at least bring in fresh ideas instead of regurgitating the same crap that has been preached to you before by your holier than thou Student Senate.
By the way, we are already living in a 28 Weeks Later type reality with the amount of mindlessness going around, so maybe Tutu IS the best choice.
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
Manhattan High produces the best.
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
FYI - I was wrong about where he went to HS. BUt I know I am right now. He made the mistake of saying in the Senate Office the next day that he was from the same HS as Mitch Knopp. HA!! And FYI Jack is from Envision too, so by your logic, he should not be seen as a reliable source. And I know that you are a fifth year senior already because you are in the same class and Jack and Dennis. Why are you throwing me under the bus in your comment, Tutu, considering I am supposed to be your friend, and it doesn't really matter where you went to school?
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
Francesca, I am sorry for implying that you were an unreliable source. Will you please forgive me for misspeaking?
Love, Tutu Lee
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
go TUTU!
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
Yes, who doesn't support the use of blame and violence in an election campaign. Theres a few weeks left and I havent heard a single platform item. Hitler used a lot of rhetoric too.
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
Hitler comparisons? Really?
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
"Hitler used a lot of rhetoric too."
Godwin's law in action!
Student announces run for Senate with YouTube video
Godwin's Law (also known as Godwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies: The law states: "As a online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1."
Good work team. It only took 18 posts to trivialize one of history's greatest atrocities.
Reductio ad Hitlerum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio...
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