Dear Sagehens,
Racism has no place at Pomona College; it is antithetical to our educational mission and damages the sense of belonging that every member of our community deserves. The College has learned about several recent incidents that have caused distress and pain to members of our community, particularly Black students.
Matters involving individuals in our community are confidential, so we are limited in what we can share. That said, we do want to take this opportunity to describe what happened so we can harness this moment for our community to reflect, learn and recommit to our values.
One incident involved the use of the “N-word” by a student in a residential setting, which was overheard and reported by a Black student. It was a hurtful experience for the student who overheard the slur—understandably so. During a Bias Response Team meeting, the Black student shared similar experiences they had heard about from other students. While in this latest situation an apology was offered, the impact of the language and the broader context discussed suggests that these issues extend beyond this single residential incident. Indeed, another recent, but separate incident involved the use of the “N-word” yelled loudly by a student outside a residential building. The use of the slur concerned nearby residents who likewise submitted a bias report.
An additional incident of concern occurred at a Black student organization event. During the event, a staff member attempted to engage students about potential policy violations. The manner in which that interaction took place led to several students feeling targeted and racialized. While the College must enforce policies consistently, the method of that enforcement matters deeply.
An additional report occurred in a classroom setting, where a faculty member showed a documentary that featured multiple uses of the “N-word,” and subsequently repeated that word during the classroom discussion. There will be times in our classrooms when engaging with difficult language is unavoidable. It is up to us to approach these moments not only with care, but also with awareness of both the historical and contemporary impacts of this language. In this incident, students reported feeling particularly distressed by the repeated use of the slur—underscoring the imperative for thoughtful judgment in such situations.
We are sharing this information because we know Pomona is a supportive and inclusive campus community. We hope reflecting on these incidents reminds us to be more mindful about the ways in which our words and actions impact others. In each of the situations described above, appropriate College processes were engaged and affected students were offered support. Because of our obligation to protect individual privacy, we are unable to share additional details. However, we are continuing to work with the involved parties to support them through these experiences.
For students seeking in-person connections, we recommend you reach out to Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (MCAPS) or McAlister Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. The 5Cs also offer TimelyCare for online and 24-hour access. For additional support, you are always welcome to contact your class dean. If you have experienced a bias-related incident, we encourage you to file a report via our Bias Response Team website.
We are grateful to those who spoke up and shared their concerns. And we know that the Pomona community stands together in rejecting actions that threaten the core values of our institution.
Sincerely,
Brent Carbajal, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College
Avis Hinkson, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Jeff Roth, Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Treasurer