San Jose City College’s Jaggy the Jaguar is widely used in representing the school as our mascot. You can chat with Jaggy via the school’s web page and text message, promotions on YouTube, animated shorts and see Jaggy in action at sporting and campus events. 

“We use Jaggy all the time,” Daniel Gutierrez, who is in charge of marketing and web coordination. 

Both virtually and in real life, Jaggy has made a fair share of appearances. So, just how long has SJCC sported our beloved Jaguar’s costume? 

“It was here before my time and I’ve been here since 2017,” Dan Garza, director of Marketing and public relations said. Garza told the Times that SJCC is looking to replace our current mascot’s threads with a new look and feel, particularly better air ventilation.

Ganna Zgama, who works as a student assistant in the marketing department, reflected on the time she had to wear the costume. “It was very hot,” described Zgama. 

Among the requests for what the new costume will entail, Zgama raised the concern of sight. “The thing about this costume is that you can’t really see. Only through his mouth,” she said.

“It wasn’t so bad for me because I didn’t have the mask on.” Alex Sarellano, another assistant in the marketing department, shared. He wore the bottom half of the Jaggy costume for a Valentine’s Day promo. Though he did share “It was still kind of hot in there.” 

Jaggy is worn by many of the students at SJCC. Nearly everyone who is part of the student ambassador program at the student center has had to wear it.

“At some point, everyone has to wear it.” Juan García, program coordinator at SJCC said. García, however, has narrowly escaped the duty.

While ventilation and overheating are some key changes SJCC would like to make to the costume, there are cosmetic changes students hope to see as well.

Student ambassador Kim Ruiz had some thoughts on the new production. “I hope they’re designing it a little differently,” said Ruiz. “He needs more boning and structure. He’s just so flimsy looking.” 

Jaguars can hope to see the new and improved threads on Jaggy  “some time next year,” according to Garza. Hopefully our student ambassadors breathe a little better in it.