Traditions of Pomona College

Numerous traditions have been established at Pomona College, a highly selective^[3] liberal arts college in Claremont, California, since its founding in 1887. They have varying levels of popularity, longevity, and institutional recognition. Taken together, they are a significant component of the school's culture and identity, promoting social cohesion among students and other community members.

Early traditions at Pomona, such as Pole Rush and banner springs, often took the form of rivalries between different class years,^[4]^[5] and frequently involved hazing. After World War II, these were gradually replaced with college-wide traditions, including the college's most intensely carried tradition, a reverence for the number 47, which began in 1964. Overall, the Yale Daily News characterizes Pomona's traditions as "often more quirky and fun than steeped in history and legend."^[6]

^ Cite error: The named reference 4/7 Day was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference TSL_Clock was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^
Characterizations of the reputation of Pomona College:
- Barber, Mary (November 15, 1987). "Claremont Colleges: What began 100 years ago in an empty hotel surrounded by sagebrush has evolved into a unique success in American higher education". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2020. Several studies rate Pomona as one of the country's best private liberal arts colleges
- Childs, Jeremy (October 5, 2023). "The surprising source of a million-dollar Pomona College scholarship fund: School's beloved registrar". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2023. prestigious liberal arts school
- Fiske, Edward B. (July 6, 2021). Fiske Guide to Colleges 2022 (38th ed.). Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-4926-6498-7. the undisputed star of the Claremont Colleges and one of the top small liberal arts colleges anywhere. This small, elite institution is the top liberal arts college in the West.
- Goldstein, Dana (September 17, 2017). "When Affirmative Action Isn't Enough". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021. an elite liberal arts school
- Greene, Howard; Greene, Matthew (August 16, 2016). The Hidden Ivies (3rd ed.). New York: Collins Reference. p. 550. ISBN 978-0-06-242090-9. the leading liberal arts college west of the Rocky Mountains
- Ringenberg, William C. (December 1978). "Review of The History of Pomona College, 1887–1969". The American Historical Review. 83 (5). Oxford University Press: 1351–1352. doi:10.2307/1854869. JSTOR 1854869. one of the most respected undergraduate colleges in America
- Wallace, Amy (May 22, 1996). "Claremont Colleges: Can Bigger Be Better?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2020. Considered one of the finest liberal arts institutions in the nation
^ Irvine, Jenessa (September 26, 2012). "Blast From the Past: Pre-Internet Pomona". Voices. Pomona College Office of Admissions. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
^ Lyon, E. Wilson (1977). The History of Pomona College, 1887-1969. The Castle Press. p. 485. OCLC 4114776.
^ Yale Daily News staff (July 1, 2014). The Insider's Guide to the Colleges (41st ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 341–351. ISBN 978-1-4668-4835-1.

[4/7_Day-1] Cite error: The named reference 4/7 Day was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[TSL_Clock-2] Cite error: The named reference TSL_Clock was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[reputation-3] Characterizations of the reputation of Pomona College:
Barber, Mary (November 15, 1987). "Claremont Colleges: What began 100 years ago in an empty hotel surrounded by sagebrush has evolved into a unique success in American higher education". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2020. Several studies rate Pomona as one of the country's best private liberal arts colleges

Childs, Jeremy (October 5, 2023). "The surprising source of a million-dollar Pomona College scholarship fund: School's beloved registrar". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2023. prestigious liberal arts school

Fiske, Edward B. (July 6, 2021). Fiske Guide to Colleges 2022 (38th ed.). Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-4926-6498-7. the undisputed star of the Claremont Colleges and one of the top small liberal arts colleges anywhere. This small, elite institution is the top liberal arts college in the West.

Goldstein, Dana (September 17, 2017). "When Affirmative Action Isn't Enough". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021. an elite liberal arts school

Greene, Howard; Greene, Matthew (August 16, 2016). The Hidden Ivies (3rd ed.). New York: Collins Reference. p. 550. ISBN 978-0-06-242090-9. the leading liberal arts college west of the Rocky Mountains

Ringenberg, William C. (December 1978). "Review of The History of Pomona College, 1887–1969". The American Historical Review. 83 (5). Oxford University Press: 1351–1352. doi:10.2307/1854869. JSTOR 1854869. one of the most respected undergraduate colleges in America

Wallace, Amy (May 22, 1996). "Claremont Colleges: Can Bigger Be Better?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2020. Considered one of the finest liberal arts institutions in the nation

[4] Barber, Mary (November 15, 1987). "Claremont Colleges: What began 100 years ago in an empty hotel surrounded by sagebrush has evolved into a unique success in American higher education". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2020. Several studies rate Pomona as one of the country's best private liberal arts colleges

[5] Childs, Jeremy (October 5, 2023). "The surprising source of a million-dollar Pomona College scholarship fund: School's beloved registrar". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2023. prestigious liberal arts school

[6] Fiske, Edward B. (July 6, 2021). Fiske Guide to Colleges 2022 (38th ed.). Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-4926-6498-7. the undisputed star of the Claremont Colleges and one of the top small liberal arts colleges anywhere. This small, elite institution is the top liberal arts college in the West.

[7] Goldstein, Dana (September 17, 2017). "When Affirmative Action Isn't Enough". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021. an elite liberal arts school

[8] Greene, Howard; Greene, Matthew (August 16, 2016). The Hidden Ivies (3rd ed.). New York: Collins Reference. p. 550. ISBN 978-0-06-242090-9. the leading liberal arts college west of the Rocky Mountains

[9] Ringenberg, William C. (December 1978). "Review of The History of Pomona College, 1887–1969". The American Historical Review. 83 (5). Oxford University Press: 1351–1352. doi:10.2307/1854869. JSTOR 1854869. one of the most respected undergraduate colleges in America

[10] Wallace, Amy (May 22, 1996). "Claremont Colleges: Can Bigger Be Better?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2020. Considered one of the finest liberal arts institutions in the nation

[Blast-4] Irvine, Jenessa (September 26, 2012). "Blast From the Past: Pre-Internet Pomona". Voices. Pomona College Office of Admissions. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2020.

[Lyon_history_class_identity-5] Lyon, E. Wilson (1977). The History of Pomona College, 1887-1969. The Castle Press. p. 485. OCLC 4114776.

[Yale_Insider's_Guide-6] Yale Daily News staff (July 1, 2014). The Insider's Guide to the Colleges (41st ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 341–351. ISBN 978-1-4668-4835-1.

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