A new iPhone app will serve as an alternative for cluttered, paper-covered billboards advertising campus events.

Campus Quad, a new mobile application for iPhones that creates a consolidated and digital social billboard, is now available to Duke students and faculty. Students and the app’s creators worked together to bring Campus Quad—available at only a select number of colleges in the country—to Duke for free. Campus Quad features an innovative, real-time flyer interface that some say could change the way students advertise for on-campus events—anything from free food to fraternity parties.

Sophomore Tre’ Scott, Duke Student Government vice president for services, and sophomore Ashley Qian, print intern for the Duke Innovative Design Agency, spearheaded the effort to bring Campus Quad to Duke.

“We haven’t had anything yet that provides real-time updates for real-time events,” Scott said, noting that the app is the only place where students will be able to easily post their own free digital advertisements.

Campus Quad users can create a flyer for any event on their phones, as well as upload pictures and text real-time updates for other app users. The app also has a live map feature that allows users to see what events are happening around them. Viewers can filter out categories of flyers—such as academics, arts and greek organizations—and creators can privatize their flyers or connect them to Facebook. To sign up, users must provide a Duke email address to verify that they attend the University.

“Not only can Campus Quad advertise huge campus-wide events, it can also be kept to a group of friends, or say, a fraternity, sorority, [selective living group], et cetera,” Qian said. “You can make private events that only your friends can see, and that’s another awesome feature we want to see unfold.”

Duke is now one of five schools who use the app—a list that includes Brown University, Rice University, the University of California-Berkeley and the University of South Florida.

It is too early to see how the app will change how students advertise, but Scott said he is excited about the huge potential for creativity. Scott added that he encourages user feedback, especially during the app’s early stages.

Junior Jacob Robinson, Duke University Union vice president of internal affairs, sees Campus Quad as a huge step forward in organizing the myriad of social events on campus. Robinson, who has served on several social event-planning committees, said the app will give every student the ability to see exactly what is going on around campus without missing out on interesting events.

“DUU at times struggles with its marketing and advertising so that students know what’s going on around campus,” Robinson said, calling Campus Quad an easy-to-use conglomerate of all information.

Although the app is currently only available for iPhones, creators are working to develop the Android version and hope to release it soon.