AKRON, Ohio — Paper bag puppets have turned the University of Akron into their punch line punching bag.
A six-minute skit, uploaded to YouTube by Graduates Over Greed on Thursday, takes joking jabs at UA’s President Scott Scarborough after last month’s staff cuts sparked national headlines.
The video opens with “One scary night, at the University of Akron” featuring stormy skies above E.J. Thomas Hall.
“I’d like to welcome you all to the Scott Scarborough institute on money, where we do nothing but learn how to make ourselves more money – formerly known as E.J. Thomas Hall,” the lead puppet impersonator says. “Before we get started, I’d like to take a moment to congratulate ourselves on a job well done. We managed to cut costs at the expense of our hard-working employees and students without a single executive having to take a pay cut.”
The puppets, who also represent UA’s Board of Trustees, whoop and cheer about different ways of making more money for themselves.
“We don’t have anything on this campus unless it makes me money – or it’s a big, fancy stadium,” the puppet Scarborough declares.
Scarborough’s salary, among other UA expenses, have been called into question after more than 200 jobs were eliminated.
“Once again, we’ve been successful in making tough decisions that ruin other people’s lives, but keep our own paychecks secure. Great job, team.”
The spoof ends by taking a stance against the University’s staff cuts while listing various six-figured salaries of specific staff employees.
“What’s happening at the University of Akron is no joke.”