LeeUCrushes owner maintains anonymous legacy on campus
Photo by Sydney Pressley.
The renowned Twitter account LeeUCrushes has been a staple to Lee’s campus life since its creation in 2012. With over 3,000 followers, the face behind LeeUCrushes still remains anonymous.
“The best part about running LeeUCrushes is that no one knows who it is,” said the student behind the account. “People talk about it to my face and I just sit there and laugh on the inside because they have no idea.”
Beginning as a small joke in a dorm room, the account quickly became an icon that has helped define Lee’s community.
“LeeUCrushes started back in 2012 in room 128 of OB1 with a group of guys looking to make this place a little more interesting,” said the account owner. “We all know Lee needs a little spice and controversy every once in a while.”
Sworn to secrecy, account owners are chosen through a “taxing process” where they commit to a code of anonymity and integrity, all while living a double life among their peers.
“It's like being a king,” said the account owner. “I'm the all-knowing, and you get to watch chaos spread across the nation. Having this secret and power that no one knows about is pretty great.”
The account’s popularity began due to its anonymous submissions via SurveyMonkey, where students can publicly admit their campus crushes without risking rejection.
“The page blew up the first night we started it,” said the account owner. “[The previous owner] went to bed with 28 followers and woke up to 869, and it just kept growing from there. This account works well for Lee University because people are able to say things they may not say in person.”
In a campus imbued with the mantra “ring by spring,” some students emphasize the unique dating culture Lee perpetuates. Students feel pressured to either abide in singleness or rush into commitment.
“The only people I meet either want to get married right away or do not want to get married at all,” said sophomore Spanish/TESOL major Miranda Phillips. “There is no happy medium.”
Regardless of this culture, students consistently submit names to the account with an average of 10-15 submissions per day, as followers refresh in hopes to see their name on the feed.
“[When I saw my name] at first I was like, ‘a secret admirer!’ I thought it was probably just one of my friends,” said sophomore human development major Tatum Deems. “I tried to dig, but no one would tell me … and whenever you see your name, it’s like, this is kinda cool. Someone is submitting it whether it’s my friend or a stranger.”
In a generation that has popularized online dating, LeeUCrushes is a type of “dating app” for Lee students. While traditional dating remains prevalent, students can confess feelings for their peers all while remaining completely anonymous.
“I think that if dating apps are used for good, they will yield good things,” said Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Arlie Tagayuna. “We have developed a culture that no longer dwells in permanence because we are so quick to move forward, and the internet has become a market that we search for a relationship in.”
Despite the perceived negative influences online dating may have, LeeUCrushes was created with light-hearted intentions, providing entertainment exclusive to Lee’s community.
“I think it would take the fun out of it if it wasn’t anonymous,” said Deems. “You can see people’s thoughts [on Twitter], but you don’t have to put it to a face. [This account] shows Lee’s personality as a whole and our character.”
As for the face of LeeUCrushes, the current owner continues to remain anonymous — just like the students who submit their crushes. However, the owner hopes to leave their legacy at Lee with a grand reveal at graduation.
For some students, LeeUCrushes has proved more than mere amusement. Mustering the courage to reply or connect in person, frivolous tweets have resulted in a handful of happily ever afters.
“I know of 14 couples over the years whose relationships started because of a simple tweet,” said the account owner. “Eight of those are now happily married.”
Editor’s Note: The LeeUCrushes moderator agreed to be interviewed under the condition of anonymity. The Lee Clarion has verified the account owner as a current Lee student.
