Pomona College has added shared ancestry as a category in the College’s statements of non-discrimination to clarify the protections available for students, faculty and staff. In our updated nondiscrimination policies, the College calls attention to antisemitism and Islamophobia as two forms of intersectional discrimination based on religion, shared ancestry and or/national origin:
The College also recognizes that discrimination and harassment may occur in an intersectional manner. Intersectional discrimination and harassment occur when discrimination or harassment is based on a combination of interconnected protected statuses.
A non-exhaustive list of examples of intersectional discrimination and harassment is below.
- Antisemitism can be a form of intersectional discrimination or harassment based on religion, shared ancestry, and/or national origin. Antisemitism may manifest as engaging in any of the following conduct against an individual because the individual is or is perceived to be Jewish or because the individual is or is perceived to be from Israel: repeatedly using anti-Semitic slurs; defacing an individual’s property with a hateful symbol or word (e.g., a swastika); denying an individual access to or refusing to allow an individual to participate in any program sponsored or hosted by the College; using force or intimidation to obstruct the path of an individual; or refusing to grant an individual a benefit to which they are entitled (e.g., a letter of recommendation). Evidence of an individual’s perceived protected status may include, for example, association with Israel or with a Jewish organization, wearing religious attire (e.g., a kippah), or displaying a religious symbol associated with Judaism (e.g., a star of David).
- Islamophobia can be a form of intersectional discrimination or harassment based on religion, shared ancestry, and/or national origin. Islamophobia may manifest as repeated incidents of slurs based on an individual’s actual or perceived protected status; blaming an individual for actions of other individuals of their actual or perceived shared identity as Middle Eastern or Muslim (e.g., calling an individual a “terrorist”); or denying an individual access to or refusing to allow an individual to participate in any program sponsored or hosted by the College because of their actual or perceived protected.
As noted in the policies, the College strives to provide a campus environment where all individuals can visit and study together comfortably and productively. Accordingly, for students, prohibited harassment includes epithets, slurs, derogatory comments or jokes, intimidation, negative stereotyping, threats, assault or any physical conduct which is aimed at an individual or group because of their legally protected characteristic(s), and interferes with a student’s normal academics or extracurricular movement.
Full details of the non-discrimination policy in the workplace and student-related matters can be found in the student handbook.
Campus Resources
Pomona College will address violations of the College’s discrimination policy and therefore, we ask that you immediately report incidents of discrimination. Bias-related incidents should be reported to the bias report team via this bias report form. You can learn more about the process at the bias reporting web
Additional Resources for Students
Students in need of support are encouraged to seek assistance from their class dean, Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (909) 621-8202, TimelyCare or a Claremont Colleges chaplain at (909) 621-8685. These resources are available to all students to talk through their feelings, suggest options for care, or identify next steps in addressing their needs.
The College’s goal is for every student to flourish in an atmosphere of safety and open dialogue. As a reminder, students facing harassment, intimidation or discrimination due to their ethnic or religious background or identity, should contact Dean Josh Eisenberg (josh.eisenberg@pomona.edu) or Dean Brandon Jackson (brandon.jackson@pomona.edu).