Junior Andrew Tutt's path to the Duke Student Government presidential election is anything but typical.
Tutt is the first candidate in recent memory to run for president two years in a row.
The biomedical engineering, economics and mathematics triple major from Davis, Calif., finished third in last year's presidential election.
Tutt said, however, that this year is different. As DSG webmaster-and creator of the overarching Student Link site platform for student groups-and a member of the President's Council on Black Affairs and the Information Technology Advisory Council, Tutt said he has the experience and knowledge to improve Duke's academic and social atmosphere.
"Last year I was learning the ropes of this process," he said. "[This year] I've grown in my connection with DSG, I've seen much more of the University and I've met more administrators."
Tutt said his platform focuses on "big ideas," which include allowing food points to be spent at off-campus restaurants, subsidizing student-organized parties and revamping the academic advising system.
Additionally, Tutt said he wants to streamline communication between DSG and the student body and improve relations with other organizations.
To implement these ideas, he said he will reach out to students and build the groundwork for individuals to pursue solutions themselves.
"The concerns of students are the concerns of the organization," Tutt said. "A principal focus of my DSG presidency would be to make Duke [a place] where you can take possession of your Duke education.... Students who engage with the right people can make incredible change at Duke."
Beyond serving on various University committees, Tutt is also involved with several publications at Duke and founded the Duke Journal of Public Affairs and Wired 2 Achieve, a student organization that refurbishes and redistributes donated computers.
"I've built a foundation and others have expanded on it and [the groups] have remained successful in what [they were] intended to do," he said. "I've used vision to inspire others."
Freshman Brian Pike, who is working on Tutt's campaign, said Tutt really cares about student concerns and is eager to reach out to students.
Pike added, however, that he realizes the road to the presidency is not easy for Tutt.
The perceived difference in expertise between Tutt and presidential candidates Jordan Giordano and Kevin Troy, both juniors, is a key issue Tutt must contend with, Pike said.
"It is the perception that he isn't on the same level of experience [as Troy and Giordano] that he has to overcome," Pike said. "I know for a fact that [Tutt] has connections with just about as many administrators as Kevin and Jordan."
Tutt said he acknowledges the difficulty in campaigning against two candidates with more DSG-specific experience.
He added, however, that he has developed relationships and lobbied for policy improvements via his tenure on PCOBA and ITAC.
"I think there is no contest in who has more connections to administrators and who has more experience leading diverse and dynamic projects," Tutt said. "If we talk about ideas and we talk about competence, then I think that I've won this race."
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