Alex FriedrichI read this article yesterday about how college presidents around the country were being impersonated on Twitter. (It’s in my link roundup today.) People apparently create accounts — often satirical accounts — with a president’s name and then post snarky or goofy (and sometimes serious) comments.
Then, while writing about St. Olaf College yesterday, I got a message from school spokesman David Gonnerman, who may have seen that my post was picked up by St. Olaf’s Twitter account.
Or not:
Just so you know, this (which isn’t badly done) isn’t our official Twitter account. This is.
(I checked it out — and sheepishly realized that I’d been following the wrong site. But after reading the article, I can take comfort in the fact that I’m not the only one who’s been hosed.)
The Real McCoy
The account displays the mantra “Let’s go Oles! Um! Yah! Yah!” and spits out an assortment of college-related tweets and bits of news. It’s not really a parody account, but gives the feel of a pep rally at times, compared to the more professional, official account:
Lol! RT @Magmats: St. Olaf quad + 65 degrees = PASTY FLESH EVERYWHEREEEEEE
Alright all, you caught us – Emma Watson really is transferring to St. Olaf!!! OMG! (cc: @RobertsEmma) #AprilFools
There should be no question!! RT @HarleeSuperstar: Accepted Colleges: Oberlin, Bard, Brandeis, St. Olaf…#FML WHERE DO I GO?
I asked Gonnerman who’d set it up and whether the account ever created problems, and he told me:
I don’t know who set this one up, but I suspect it might be a student. No problems yet, and I’ve even retweeted some of its material.
So do any other Minnesota colleges and universities have unofficial accounts?
