In a school with such a large arts program, three undergraduate students at Oklahoma Christian University were baffled when they realized there was no arts centered club on campus. Now, with the backing of the school, they are trying to make the artistic movement on campus into a club for all art majors.
Jonah Zerpa, Riley McKey and Gavin Schmidt, students at Oklahoma Christian, have officially launched “.ZIP” (pronounced Dot Zip) or Zeta Iota Pi, the university’s first multi-disciplinary student arts club in recent years. The name, borrowed from a common file compression format, serves as both a nod to the technology artists use every day and a metaphor for their primary mission: helping a broad spectrum of creatives come together into one space.
For multiple semesters art enthusiasts on campus often create in relative isolation outside their curriculum. While Oklahoma Christian maintains academic programs in graphic design and fine arts and an art gallery for students to display their art, students lack a flexible, informal venue to collaborate without the pressure of a letter grade.
“.ZIP is important because it gives artists a platform to share the work they are most passionate about without any curriculum to restrict it,” Zerpa said. “It is our hope that through this club, artists will have the chance to better themselves by the support of likeminded peers they can interact with long after they’ve graduated.”
The initiative required careful preparation. Planning for .ZIP began several months ago when McKey, Schmidt, and Zerpa drafted a proposal to Professor Judson Copeland and the university’s student life administration. After many months of planning, the club was finally announced to the public alongside an interest form for events.
Even alumni and those from other disciplines are excited for the new club. “This club is so important. I remember being a student at OC and having no creative outlet. This will be a
great opportunity for those of all majors to get involved and share their talents,” Abigail, an alumni from Oklahoma Christian, said.
According to McKey, the club’s philosophy relies heavily on cross-pollination between disciplines. Rather than restricting membership to traditional painting or drawing, .ZIP actively encourages digital illustration, graphic design, textile arts, creative writing, and music production.
Schmidt, a graphic design major, said “I’m looking forward to the club because it’s been something we’ve thought about and worked on since last school year,” he also believes it will be “one of the first times I’ll have such a large responsibility.”
Looking ahead, the organizers of .ZIP set clear objectives for the academic year. They believe in making an organization that fosters creativity while inspiring learning outside of the classroom.
Soon, all art majors in Oklahoma Christian can join Zeta Iota Pi and enjoy a community of creativity and fun. It has been a long road for the creation of .ZIP, but the three founders proudly announce the club to the public for all art majors to join.
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