Statements/Messages from President Starr

As we head into fall break, I write with the hope that you will take care of yourselves and one another, because we need one another, and we need care, as the violation of our collective life on campus on October 7, 2024, has shown.

I enjoyed welcoming new students this past weekend and look forward to seeing returning Sagehens on campus. We come together with great hope for the academic year ahead.

I hope summer is offering you a chance for rest and reflection. As we approach August, I and the College’s leadership team are preparing for fall semester, seeking common ground to advance our lasting academic mission in a time of rapid change.

This has been a year weighed down by grief. Pomona is, by our very mission, strongly rooted in the local communities around us, but global in our orientation.

 I am writing to update the community regarding steps we are taking after a group of individuals refused to identify themselves to Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff, and proceeded to verbally harass staff.

Pomona has a long tradition of activism, and we uphold the right to protest in line with the demonstration policy shared across The Claremont Colleges. 

At this difficult moment, we must not only hold fast to our values but also pursue a path forward that unites us, rather than divides us.

Our campus community has widely divergent viewpoints and commitments on this issue, and I want to find ways for thoughtful dialogue to unfold at Pomona in the weeks ahead.

At this time of beginnings, I’m writing to share more details on the future course of Pomona College and our unique role in promoting opportunity in American higher education.

I hope you and those you love are finding peace and respite as we reach the end of a tumultuous year for our world.