The unknown history of how FROГ got started at Gallaudet University

It all began innocently enough in the spring semester of 1988 when sophomore Robert Johnson approached a group of Kappa Gamma fraternity boys sitting around at their preferred Gallaudet University cafeteria tables and asked a simple question, "What does it take to join Kappa Gamma?" One of the Kappa Gamma boys retorted and called Robert a "frog" signing by mimicking the bulbous throat of a croaking frog. It was an obvious insult because calling him a "frog" is a person who "hops around" (like a frog) asking different fraternities (or sororities) on how to join. Feeling insulted and seeing Kappa Gamma's lack of courtesy and respect, Robert soon had an idea on how to get back at Kappa Gamma's own arrogant and elitist attitudes. After a little investigation he decided to form an ad hoc "Greek organization." He named it "FROГ" with the Greek capital letters phi (F), rho (R), omicron (O), and gamma (G) or (Г ). When finger-spelled it is spelled out as the letter “F,” “R,” “O,” along with an upside down “L” (Г) spelling "FROГ" which spells almost like FROG.
 

FROГ

That was the day when FROГ was born. It was sheer genius by Robert Johnson. A clever way to make a strong statement.  

His new non-designated "Greek fraternity" got the attention of students who were independents and supported this new so-called FROГ Greek organization. Over a course of a few weeks some 450+ students signed up to be a member of this FROГ "fraternity" and even shelled out $8 bucks to buy a FROГ T-shirt.  Some FROГ members continued to wear their FROГ T-shirts well into the 1989 school year even for their 1989 yearbook pictures.

 

Green T-shirts were for male independents while pink T-shirts were for female independents.  No fraternity or sorority members allowed, so to speak, because they were not independents to begin with.   It was easy to join with no secretive interviews, intimidating tactics, no hazing or the need to become a pledge in order to join this FROГ "Greek fraternity" organization.  Basically anyone could "join" except, of course for obvious reasons, for fraternity and sorority members who were not independents at all.

Word got around quickly to Kappa Gamma where some actually got upset with FROГ designation because of the way the Gamma letter (Г) was signed which was the same as Kappa Gamma's as you can see in the two animated GIFs below.


 
 Kappa Gamma spelled "KГ"



FROG spelled "FROГ"

It was quite outrageous even elitist when Kappa Gamma felt that the Gamma letter (Г) should not be allowed to be signed in that manner. One thing for sure, they certainly felt the jab of Robert Johnson's response to their classless, elitist attitude that day at the Gallaudet cafeteria.

The real surprise came was during Rock Festival night. A plan was in the works that independents would wear their FROГ T-shirts at the festival in April of 1988. They came in droves that night which got the attention of the Kappa Gamma fraternity boys who were also at the Rock Festival, including Kappa Gamma member Roger Kraft seen in the 1988 Gallaudet University's yearbook.  

In fact, there were so many of them around it alarmed Kappa Gamma because they didn't know the true number of FROGs.  With that lack of solid information on the numbers it kept them at bay for even trying to complain further about the ad hoc Greek organization. Now they know number of FROГs that signed up, 25 years later that is.

Even though Robert Johnson was the founder of the FROГ Greek ad hoc organization it was meant only to be short-lived just to prove a point when it came to elitist attitudes.  Robert Johnson went on to join the Kappa Sigma fraternity during the 1989 school year. Kappa Sigma is one the oldest international fraternity who do not believe in hazing, a total opposite of what Kappa Gamma believed and practiced back then. In fact, hazing was their mainstay and part of the Kappa Gamma Greek organization and history. Something that they have not apologized yet for their hazing and intimidation practices on pre-pledges (interviewees) and pledges who were looking to join the Greek Kappa Gamma organization but sustained injuries through intense paddling and other physical and mental abuses.

Rest in Peace Robert Johnson who was killed in an auto accident on Sept 7, 2003 .

And now you know the rest of the story.

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.