Imagine an app for your phone that informs you of every university event at NYU. Acting as a central bulletin board for students, Skrounge is a new application that launched on April 4 at NYU by two students who recently graduated from Skidmore College. NYU is the application’s first campus.
Inspired by the lack of regional emphasis in many of today’s social media platforms, the duo began designing of an app that would allow people to post events exclusively viewable by the university community.
Nicolle Bennett, a Gallatin graduate student and the app’s content manager, said that Skrounge allows students to post photographs, videos, hashtags, stories and advertisements.
“People often talk about a lack of community at NYU, and we’re hoping that this can help to address that,” Bennett said.
Bennett explained that students must have an NYU email address to access this app. Once registered, students can post material at their leisure and like or comment on other members’ posts.
One of Skrounge’s best features is that a student’s location is available along with his or her posts, allowing students and viewers to meet and discover new restaurants, theaters, party venues and study locations.
Gallatin senior Amy Rosenberg, a frequent social media user, creates Twitter lists of free and cheap events happening around New York City. She now posts them on Skrounge, sharing her thoughts and experiences in a secluded, safe environment.
“I don’t have to worry about showing up at a bar where a bunch of possibly dangerous strangers are hanging out. I know at least one other NYU student will be there too,” Rosenberg said.
Rewards are given to posts with the most likes. CAS freshman Luke Allard won a three-month Spotify subscription, as well as a spot in the grand raffle for a larger prize that will be revealed in the future. The app allowed Allard to connect with the community and to explore and broadcast her own messages.
“It is for students, by students,” Allard said. “But it is not always NYU-related, which is great, because it is also about the neighborhood and [the] city as a whole. It was a great way to get the word out about my fashion Instagram.”
Gallatin freshman Jessica Soares, a Skrounge campus ambassador, sees the app as a tool to enhance college life at NYU.
“It’s a great way to consolidate the millions of NYU Facebook and Twitter pages that students have to seek out and get notifications from a million times a day,” Soares said. “Skrounge was created to give students the latest parties, styles, study tips, yummy recipes and pieces of advice that will improve their college experience.”
A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, April 11 print edition. Kimberly Schu is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected].