The number 47 has historical implications toPomona College, aliberal arts college inClaremont, California, and has been incorporated into various aspects of campus life.[10][11] The tradition began in the summer of 1964, when two students, Laurie Mets and Bruce Elgin, conducted a research project seeking to find out whether the number occurs more often in nature than would be expected by chance. They documented various 47 sightings, and professorDonald Bentley produced afalse mathematical proof that 47 was equal to all other integers. The number became ameme among the class, which spread once the academic year began and snowballed over time.[12]
Notable 47 sightings include the fact that Pomona is located off of exit 47 ofInterstate 10, and the fact that the largest residential building on campus, Mudd-Blaisdell (formally Florence Carrier Blaisdell and Della Mullock Mudd Hall, a title with 47 characters), was completed in 1947 and contains a staircase with 47balusters.[12]
Many Pomona alumni have deliberately inserted 47 references into their work.
[10]Joe Menosky (class of 1979), a writer for
Star Trek: The Next Generation, inserted 47 mentions into nearly every episode of the show, a practice that has been picked up by other
Star Trek writers.
[12][13][14] Pomona hosts a
community service–oriented celebration every April 7 (abbreviated 4/7 in the U.S.).
[15] In the early 2010s, the college's clock tower was set up to chime on the 47th minute of the hour.
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