My first encounter with Yik Yak was when I was accepted to Washington University and decided to visit here. I was sitting in an anthropology class when some guy in a turtle costume got up mid-lecture, yelled a fraternity name, shot a NERF gun into the air and ran out.

Don’t ride a skateboard around campus if you’re gonna fall off every 5 seconds.” “You used to call me on my shell phone.” “Biden/Knope 2k16.” What do these seemingly random statements have in common, you ask? All of them were famous Yaks, and all of them were posted by me.

At this time, we must clarify that we are not and cannot speak on behalf of the entire black community. We are but one section of it, and we have something to say.

The Yik Yak app has caused problems. Malicious posts directed toward individuals, groups of people and organizations have led to some backlash against the app, leading campus leaders to note its negative impacts.

While posts about your excessively wonderful drinking adventures may seem harmless, Yik Yak definitely has an effect on perceptions of our University, especially to freshmen who don’t have fully formed opinions of campus yet.

Though Yik Yak is hardly a new app and not even necessarily new to the Washington University student body, the app has suddenly blown up in popularity.