Independent Greek FROGs at Gallaudet University

Back in around 1988 on the campus of Gallaudet University there was this new independent “fraternity” group who called themselves “FROG” with the Greek capital letters phi (F), rho (R), omicron (O), and gamma (G) or (Φ­РОГ ). When finger-spelled it is spelled out as the letter “F,” “R,” “O,” along with an upside down “L” to look like the capital Greek letter “rho” which spells "FROГ." The 1988 yearbook captured an image of a student wearing a FROГ t-shirt as proof that this did happen.



This was a fine and dandy thing except that some of the fraternity Greek members on campus were whining about the fact that FROГ was not a legitimate Greek organization. Either they misunderstood or took offense about the whole FROГ thing was about.  The FROГ idea was the brainstorm of the late Robert Johnson.

Also, he led to set up and organize a short-lived ad hoc organization called FROG to mock the Greek organizations for fun during the Rock Festival weekend and I played some roles in his organization.

While as a student I remember distinctly these complaints by some Greek members and just laughed at the whole idea of them actually complaining about it. The hilarity was over the fact that some of the campus fraternity members actually felt threatened by a group of people wearing FROГ t-shirts and those selling the t-shirts. This so-called "organization" was never meant to be anything else other than a joke. How can it be an organization if it's for independent people who can "join" at any time?  It was all about poking fun at fraternities and sororities during Rock Festival weekends.

The beauty of FROГ was that anybody can join, except, of course, for those who already joined a fraternity or sorority Greek organization, as long as they are legitimately independents. Best of all, no hazing is required to become a member. No need for hazing like the 48 Hour Period sleep deprivation, Goat Night fun, or paddling probation events. Just buy a FROГ t-shirt and, voila, you're a member of the FROГ ad hoc "organization."  You don't have to buy a t-shirt to proclaim your independence but it sure can help.

FROГs accept you for who you are and not about what you are. It doesn't matter if you're athletic or not. It does not matter if you're smart or not. It doesn't matter how good looking you are. It does not matter how well you sign, speak or the ability to hear or not. It doesn't matter if you wear a hearing aid, cochlear implant or not. FROГ or FROG independents do not discriminate, physically harm, harass or mentally abuse.  Buy a FROГ t-shirt day! And say "No!" to any kind of hazing however small or big.