Alligator Online
By HEATHER RAPP
Whether a student is in need of a quick make-out session, a pre-owned futon or an exotic pet, a new classifieds Web site will help them find it all for free.
Developed and managed by UF sophomore Bryan Scott, www.CampusTrade.com allows college students to post an unlimited number of classified ads at no charge.
Scott, a 19-year-old finance major, created the community completely out of pocket. He said he hopes to provide an arena for student-to-student trading by offering categories such as subleases, textbooks, electronics and jobs. CampusTrade will even send a text message to your cell phone when a buyer expresses interest in your ad.
The site has been fully functional since Dec. 5, 2005, but recently Scott said he's seen about 75 new users each week. About 500 students currently post their wares on the site.
During the several weeks leading up to CampusTrade's launch, Scott said he poured about 60 hours a week into its upkeep.
"I didn't sleep or go to class," he said.
Today, he devotes about 15 hours a week to his project while remaining an active member in his church and fraternity. Scott is treasurer of Kappa Upsilon Chi, a Christian fraternity.
"It was just a calling, like everything I do," he said. "I'm a Christian, and I have a strong financial background."
While he hopes to eventually generate a profit from his project, Scott is waiting until people get hooked on his service so they are less likely to be bothered by ads. In the next couple of weeks, he'll integrate a small amount of advertisement banners.
"The idea is to slowly introduce the user," Scott said.
Scott also has other aspirations for the site's growth: He wants to see it gain popularity nationwide. While CampusTrade is currently available to 95 universities, only about 10 users hail from outside UF.
While such accomplishments might be a challenge for right-brained thinkers, math and technology comes second-nature to Scott.
When he was 5, he perused his mother's computer-programming book collection.
"I've always been a bit of a nerd," he joked.
As a senior in high school, Scott opened his own business called JaxPCs, which specializes in network setup and computer consultation.
Scott charges $50 an hour to make house calls for technical troubles.
"I'm a real bargain,"he said.