Craigslist Ad Places Akron University For Sale, Prank Pokes Fun At School’s Deficit


A recent Craigslist ad claimed the University of Akron in Ohio was for sale. This ad was posted by a prankster poking fun at the school’s massive deficit.

The University of Akron has been attempting to deal with the very real deficit by cutting 215 staff positions and eliminating extra-curricular activities, such as baseball and several programs at the E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall. Many schools before have done fund-raising events like car washes, theater plays, and other things to varying degrees of success to help deal with the lack of funds.

Apparently, nothing so trivial can fix a deficit of that size.

One possibly disgruntled employee decided instead to post a fake ad on Craigslist, selling Akron’s University for $40 million, or a better offer. Highlights of the school included in the “sale” were the above mentioned performing arts hall, the football stadium, Quaker Square, and Goodyear Polymer Center.

The ad, posted Tuesday night, was taken down after a few hours, but not before being discovered by social media. It began convincingly enough, but quickly gave way to snark.

“It is with a heavy heart I have to share with you all that the University of Akron will be closing. I take no great pride in this but please know I’ve done all I can. By eliminating the baseball team, closing facilities, outsourcing dining, [laying] off employees, and refusing to put a watchable football team on the field, we have done all we can.”

The joke was made obvious by the end, when the poster of the ad claimed, “Since I moved here I’ve really [gotten] into the Black Keys and would love to trade the campus for an El Camino.”

The Craigslist ad for Akron University was “signed” by President S. Scarborough, though it was proven fake within hours. As fake as it was, it probably still got some laughs for whoever posted it.

[Image via Craigslist / Fox News]

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