The Enduring Legacy of the Sagehen: A History of Pomona College's Mascot

Pomona College, a distinguished liberal arts institution nestled in Claremont, California, boasts a rich history interwoven with unique traditions and a distinctive mascot: the Sagehen. This article delves into the origins and evolution of the Sagehen, exploring its significance within the college's identity.

The Genesis of a Mascot: From "Huns" to "Hens"

At the turn of the 20th century, Pomona's athletic teams were known by various nicknames, including the "Huns," a reference to warrior nomads. However, with the advent of World War I, the term "Huns" acquired derogatory connotations due to its association with the German enemy. This prompted a search for a new, less problematic moniker.

The athletic nickname “Sage Hen” first appeared in a November 29, 1913, issue of The Student Life newspaper. From 1914, the nicknames, “Hun” and “Hen” were used interchangeably for Pomona athletics teams, with several stories identifying the origin of the nickname. One mentioned that a reporter, while intending to refer to the Pomona athletic teams as “sage [wise] Huns,” accidentally typed “hens” instead.

Another theory proposes that the name “Huns” went out of favor because of its derogatory use during World War I and “Hens” was chosen as a cost-saving measure for uniform replacements. This version suggests that uniforms already bearing the nickname "Huns" could be altered by simply replacing a single letter.

Regardless of the precise origin, the "Sagehen" gradually gained prominence, eventually becoming the official mascot of Pomona College. Its unique and somewhat whimsical nature has contributed to its enduring appeal.

Cecil the Sagehen: Embodiment of the Mascot

Our nameless mascot was given life when Cecil the Sagehen was officially born in 1946, first referenced in Metate, Pomona’s yearbook. Cecil only manifested in drawings and newspapers early on, but this queen couldn’t be bound by simple 2D imagery for long. Cecil even showed up to Pomona-Pitzer President Peter Stanley’s inauguration in 1991 in drag, under the name Cecilia, chirping and wooing the new president - true icon behavior. The storied history of Cecil the Sagehen shines light on how devastating this case is. The pushback from students inspires many questions about this change: Why would Pomona-Pitzer spend so much money on something as silly as this? Is this our way of competing with CMC’s new athletic facility? Are we trying to convince people that Division III sports are real?

Over the years, the Cecil costume has undergone several iterations. Senior Associate Dean of Campus Life Frank Bedoya, in whose closet Cecil 2.0 resided for many years, still has the head of what may have been the original Cecil-call him Cecil 1.0. We were unable to determine when or by whom that Cecil was designed and built, but Bedoya says by the 1990s it was falling apart. Over the years, Bedoya not only housed Cecil 2.0-quite often he was Cecil. Which brings us to 2017. Since the company that created Cecil 2.0 was no longer in business, there was no question of refurbishing the old costume, so the Pomona-Pitzer Athletic Program and Pomona’s Stewardship Office took the lead to create a new Cecil-or should I say Cecils? Cecil 3.0 and his twin (whom we might call Cecil 3.1)-designed and built by ProMo Costumes of Marion, Ohio, based on design concepts provided by the College-are taller, more athletic and a bit more modern-looking than their predecessor. They also come with a ventilating fan inside the head and an ice-vest to keep the wearer cool under all that heavy velour and padding, even while dancing inside a hot gymnasium.

The Sagehen in Action: Athletics and College Life

The Sagehens compete jointly with Pitzer College in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), a Division III conference. This partnership reflects the collaborative spirit of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of seven institutions that share resources and foster inter-campus connections.

Harry Kingman ‘13 completed his career as a four-sport athlete with the Sagehens (track, baseball, tennis and basketball) and moved on to pitch for the New York Yankees in 1914 and 1915.

Beyond athletics, the Sagehen mascot permeates various aspects of college life. From orientation events to graduation ceremonies, the Sagehen serves as a symbol of school spirit and shared identity.

Traditions and Quirks: The Spirit of Pomona

Traditions can come and go, but many beloved Pomona College traditions have endured over the years and are providing a sense of connection among current students and to previous generations.

The Significance of 47

In 1964, two Pomona students set out to find occurrences of the number 47 on campus to prove that the number occurs more than one would expect. Professor Donald Bentley then developed a facetious proof that all numbers are equal to 47. Since then, the number has become an unofficial mascot of sorts for Pomona. On April 7 each year, the College celebrates 4/7 Day and the impact of its students and alumni.

Fountaining on Birthdays

If your birthday falls during the academic year, you can expect to be thrown into one of the many fountains on campus on your special day. You don’t know when it might happen; the surprise could take place at midnight or anytime the next day.

Frary Dining Hall's Hogwarts Transformation

Each December, the staff of Frary Dining Hall-an imposing building with a vaulted ceiling and dark wood panels-transform the space into the cafeteria of Hogwarts, hanging up flags of the different houses and preparing butter beer and other wizard fare. The magical event allows Pomona students to realize their wizarding dreams for one night a year.

Mufti's Cryptic Commentary

Pomona’s secret society, which originated in 1958, plasters small sheets of paper around campus with simple but cryptic messages offering social commentary on happenings at the College.

Read also: Physics at Pomona College

Frank Dining Hall Omelets

Brunch at Frank Dining Hall is a favorite meal for many students, and the made-to-order omelets are a big reason why. Diners are able to select the ingredients for their custom omelets, choosing from a variety of vegetables, cheeses and meats. There is almost always a line for the omelet bar, which is on the patio of Frank these days, but students say it’s worth the wait.

Orientation Adventure (OA) Trips

Two days after new students move into their dorms in August, they embark on Orientation Adventure (OA) trips. The program, which began in 1995, is designed to help students meet new people and ease their transition to college. For three days, students experience wilderness, cultural and entertainment options around Los Angeles.

Walker Wall: A Forum for Free Speech

Built in 1956 on the northern edge of Walker Beach as a flood barrier, the wall has been used as a public forum for students to express opinions and advertise events since the early 1970s. In 1975, the College recognized it as a free speech wall. First-year students also decorate the wall during orientation with other students in their sponsor group.

Ski-Beach Day

The annual spring event organized by the Pomona Events Committee takes advantage of the campus’ proximity to the San Gabriel Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. In the morning, a busload of Pomona students is transported to the slopes of Mountain High Resort and then to the sands of an Orange County beach for the second half of the day.

Sponsor Groups

Before new students arrive on campus, they are assigned to sponsor groups of 10-20 people who live on the same hall.

The College Gates

Another tradition that takes place during New Student Orientation, this one sends new students through the College gates, passing the inscription, “Let only the eager, thoughtful and reverent enter here.” Four years later, on the day before Commencement, students march through the College gates again, this time in the other direction. On the south side of the gates is the inscription "They only are loyal to this college who departing bear their added riches in trust for mankind".

Snapshots: The Founding of The Claremont Colleges

The Claremont Colleges are celebrating a century of collaborative excellence, with 2025 marking the 100th anniversary of the consortium’s founding as envisioned by James A. Blaisdell through the Claremont Group Plan.

This photograph by Robert C. Frampton depicts the Honnold Library nearing completion. At its dedication ceremony later in the year on October 23, 1952, Honnold Library became the Claremont Colleges’ first central library facility, bringing to life a vision that was initially outlined by Dr. James A. Blaisdell during the founding of The Claremont Colleges consortium. You can see these and other materials in person at the Library’s newest exhibit, Snapshots: The Founding of The Claremont Colleges, which is available for viewing in the North Lobby Gallery through December 12, 2025.

A Recent Controversy: The Redesign of Cecil

On August 1, Cecil the Sagehen was brutally murdered. In his place, an orange “P” seemingly penetrating a blue “P” will now be representing our schools - shockingly confirming that Pomona is the bottom in our relationship. This sudden development has us all wondering: who would commit such a crime?

The simple design, straight lines, and basic color scheme led us down the trail of Joe Bosack & Co, a brand consultant known for turning the unique identities of college sports teams into logos you’d expect to see walking around Silicon Valley. We looked into their history and what we found left us stunned: a trail of mascots slain at the hands of corporate minimalism. This trend of simplifying logos is not limited to just DIII mascots. It’s a worldwide phenomena that I’m sure most are familiar with. In short, our favorite retro logos are turning into ugly corporate slop.

Companies are sold the idea that when their logo is simple and easy to recognize, it has a better chance of sticking in the mind of consumers and standing out in the vast sea of logos. Brand consultants are monopolizing the logo industry, turning unique logos into the same old shtick. Logos are now designed to be recognized in even the smallest forms, like the corner of our phones. Companies are investing millions of dollars to make these changes to their logos. So I have to ask, why is a DIII sports team doing the same thing? Who are we trying to sell our product to? Even if our logo is now somewhat more recognizable, was tarnishing our school’s spirit worth it to appeal to corporate America?

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