The creator of the near-famous @UOFreePizza Twitter account spoke with the Emerald at Sy’s New York Pizza Monday evening. The account has one simple yet noble purpose: to alert students every time there is free pizza on campus. The account has gained 483 followers since its first tweet on Feb. 4, a simple but intriguing “who likes pizza#”. Since then, the account posts photos and clever tweets in addition to alerting campus where to get a free slice. The owner of the UO Free Pizza account declined to reveal his identity to the public, but sat down with the Emerald to explain the recent pizza phenomenon.
How did UO Free Pizza get started?
UOFP: I think I started UO Free Pizza because whenever I’m hungry and broke, I would just love it and I wanted to share, so anyone can just find free pizza where there’s free pizza.
Were you inspired by @UOCrushes or any of those accounts?
UOFP: Not really, I don’t follow those. The way I got my fanbase was I went on UO Crushes and everyone who was interacting and favoriting things, I would follow all of them, so I followed like 100 people and then I got like 200 followers in the first two days and I was like “sweet.” I had actually been thinking about it for awhile. I thought for some reason I wanted to make an app with a map, but that’s just too much.
Do you hope to see an app in the future?
UOFP: I think it’s going to go global first. Soon, @WorldFreePizza will start and then countries will start giving away pizza. That’s the dream. But this is my last term, so I have to pass off the torch secretly. Someone will come forth and embody everything that UO Free Pizza embodies.
Are you ever going to reveal your identity?
UOFP: Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t know; I don’t think I need to reveal my identity. I think that would take away from it. Because once you put a face to it, it kind of ruins it. It’s not a personified piece of pizza tweeting at you, it’s a stupid senior who’s got too much free time.
Do you ever think you’ll have a staff?
UOFP: I actually have a media intern and I’ll text her and say ‘pizza tweet’ and she’ll send me a pizza tweet on the spot. And then there’s one other intern but he doesn’t do much. He’s a pizza insider.
Do your parents know?
UOFP: I told them. They’re more unproud of me than ever.
Have you always been a big fan of pizza?
UOFP: I think so. At a young age, I liked it more than broccoli. I think that’s a natural occurrence. I think everyone loves pizza.
Your dream pizza. What does it have on it?
UOFP: Integrity, cheese and various meats.
What is the weirdest message you’ve gotten on your account?
UOFP: I had some girls direct message me and they told me to meet them at Starbucks, but I didn’t. They were like “We need to know who you are.”
I have to ask about April Fool’s Day. That was pretty good. What was the inspiration behind that one?
UOFP: I just thought what’s the total opposite of pizza? Salad. I think I lost like 10 followers.
Have you ever gone to an event you otherwise would not have gone to for free pizza?
UOFP: I would. If it’s a new experience for you to go get free pizza, rather than just showing up and taking a piece and peacing, that’s not cool. You gotta enjoy the experience.
So through providing free pizza, you’re providing greater life opportunities?
UOFP: I think so. But I don’t do that. It’s all the pizza. The pizza works its own magic.