the story of Zonk:

Zonk was originally founded at HPU. We don't know exactly when Zonk was first founded. All we know is that it existed sometime in the 70's and possibly before. It finally died out in the early 1980's (?) presumably due to lack of interest.

In the 1997-98 academic year, four guys were sitting and talking late at night in the lobby of Jennings Dorm. One of these guys was the son of an original Zonk member. He told us about this group that his dad was in. We all decided to get it going again.

In that original group, all that was really decided was that we would be different from normal fraternities. Greg Irwin, one of the charter members of Zonk G2 was a former frat boy who had quit his fraternity because he disgareed with the way it was being run. His experience, combined with that of the other members, helped the members of Zonk formulate the doctrine of the inherent corruption of fraternities.

We originally had a rulebook full of procedures for the organization. When Nathan Webb (the guy who had the rulebook) transferred (with his notebook) out of HPU, we threw the rules to the wind. All that we really kept were the parts about not doing what fraternities do.

The membershhip of Zonk was expanded in the next couple of years. Notable recruits from this period include: Stephen Rabon (who was told that he was in Zonk and didn't have a problem with it) and Jonathan Fox (who had tried to pledge the same frat twice before coming to his senses and joining Zonk). We discussed (how we did that without having meetings, is amazing, but we did it) having faculty sponsors, but it seemed like that would be too close to a frat. We decided then to let any faculty member join who wanted to do so. Dr. Art Allen and Dr. Gary Gramling joined shortly.

Soon the founding members weould all be gone. Would Zonk survive? Yes. Of course. Recruitment efforts continued during this period. Notable recruits during this period include: David Tankersley (who one day just informed us that he was now in Zonk), Ahmed Ahmed, owner of Sweet Oasis Donuts (the first non-HPU member), and Alathia Paris (the first female member). Many monumentous events occured around this period: the Nerf Wars, the construction of the statue, the construction of the Austin Avenue overpass...

Now, all the founders have long since left HPU, yet the power of Zonk still remains strong under the leadership of... wait, we don't have a leader. Zonk members have carried the organization to other schools and other places.

may Zonk live forever!


Zonk Zonk Zonk Zonk
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Zonk Zonk Zonk Zonk Zonk Zonk
ZONK!



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