Chickens have been spotted across Sacramento State and the campus is rejoicing in their renewed presence.

The poultry have swelled the collective hearts of the campus community in recent weeks.

One of California State University Sacramento’s trademarks for many years, besides limited athletic success and an unfortunate relationship with a prominent eugenics advocate, was the constant presence of chickens on campus.

A few years ago the chickens disappeared from Sac State and no one ever found out why.

Some polite fuss was made after the chickens vanished, but anything said about their absence was merely in passing.

The chickens’ behavior resembles another beloved campus hallmark, the homeless. Both are basically scaly-legged and spend their days shuffling across the landscape, foraging on whatever resembles food.

The only thing that could top the morale boost from the resurgence of the chickens on campus would be a female graduate of Sac State getting famous for something other than bending over.

The chickens are Sac State. They embody our scrappy image in a time in which we fight for funding amid financial hemorrhaging nationwide. They molt their feces-flaked feathers and grow fresh plumage like we knock down outdated facilities and build energy efficient ones.

Maybe Sac State should even change its mascot to the chicken. Virtually anything would be preferable to an insect with a foolish name who looks like he is pumped full of steroids.

Stand tall, mighty chicken. You rose from the ashes like a Phoenix to show us the definition of resilience.

The State Hornet Staff can be reached at [email protected]