Statements/Messages from President Starr

Last week, the Pomona College Board of Trustees met on campus and held committee meetings and a strategic planning session. I want to share several key developments with you.

Westboro Baptist Church – infamous for its picketing around the nation – has announced plans to picket near our Pomona College campus and Claremont High this coming Monday.

Pomona College is committed to providing a safe and nondiscriminatory educational, working and residential environment for all. We must aspire to provide members of our community with an environment that is free from sexual violence.

We work to foster a safe and healthy campus community. Our participation in a survey on issues of sexual assault and campus climate is one of the ways we assess our progress, and work to understand issues that require additional commitments.

In its quarterly meeting, the Pomona College Board of Trustees discussed strategic issues for our community including the delivery of the culminating report from the Board-commissioned Task Force on Public Dialogue.

Earlier this year, the College sought proposals for the newly created Presidential Challenge Grants. Today it is my great pleasure to announce the result of this year’s selection process.

Pomona stands united with all DACA and undocumented students. As I’ve said to members of Congress and to our community, Dreamers’ aspirations speak to the highest ideals of the United States.

Congress is considering two major bills: the Senate is near to passing its version of the House’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act while the House is also seeking to overhaul the Higher Education Act of 1965.

I write to you with a heavy heart and great concern. Earlier this morning we learned that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has been rescinded and will wind down over the next six months.

Threats to this vital program place nearly 800,000 beneficiaries of DACA at risk. We are asking you, as college and university presidents, to call on our country’s leaders to protect these young people and institute a legislative solution.