In the interest of Pomona history, a few women from the Class of 1960 have revealed the origins of Mufti, the secret society responsible for anonymous and often pun-filled campus postings over the years. See Letter Box.
Exactly how it came to be known as Mufti may be lost to history, as Alice Taylor Holmes ’60 and Jean Wentworth Bush Guerin ’60 believe it might have been their late classmate Thomasine Wilson ’60, known as a wordsmith, who named the group. Their best guess is it had to do with a secondary definition of the word that refers to civilian clothes or being out of uniform. (Anonymity was required as the women were not in compliance with residence hall rules of the era when they exited over the back wall at night.)
By the way, just because they’ve come clean doesn’t mean they think others should. Secrecy “absolutely” remains an important aspect of Mufti, they agree. It seems from our mailbox that an anonymous former member agrees. (See image.)