Ever wondered who "Zinck" was and why Cornell has a global get-together every year in his name? Here's your answer:
Theodore Zinck was a saloonkeeper in Ithaca, and his pub, the Hotel Brunswick, was a popular gathering place for Cornellians in the 1890's. After his death in 1903, several bars using his name continued to provide a haven for students. When the last Zinck's closed in the mid-1960's, celebrating the spirit of Zinck's became a favorite Thursday night collegetown tradition for undergraduates. It wasn't long afterward that Cornellians began to continue the tradition in their hometowns.
In other words, a lot of alums wanted to relive their time in Ithaca and memorable (most of them anyway) events so a group from the 1960's started it.
Editor's note: Given today's environment and crackdown on drinking at Cornell I don't think this is something that could be done today and have Cornell in Ithaca support it. Therefore, let's make sure we continue to celebrate this event.
