Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US campus) a fool, a stupid person.

1842		Dartmouth IV 116: A stupid fellow, a dolt, a boot-jack, an ignoramus is called here a gonus [DA].
1856		B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 229: gonus. A stupid fellow.
1873		J. Mair Hbk of Phrases 105: Goney, Gonus, a stupid fellow.
1915		M.G. Hayden ‘Terms Of Disparagement’ in DN IV:iii 202: goney, gonus, a simpleton.
1989		P. Munro Sl. U.