Pomona, Pitzer and Scripps Colleges were mentioned in a Sept. 23 report by Amnesty International USA and the American Civil Liberties Union addressing suppression of “pro-Palestine speech and dissent” across college campuses nationwide. In a statement to TSL, a Pomona spokesperson wrote that the report “makes serious errors, unsupported by the source material.”
The report references Pomona’s disciplinary actions following the “campus demonstration” on Oct. 7, 2024, at Carnegie Hall, including Wi-Fi signal tracking and a series of suspensions, as part of a trend of “increased surveillance” on campuses nationwide. It also briefly mentions Scripps’ Sept. 2024 administrative order that The Motley Coffeehouse remove its Palestinian flag and Pitzer in the context of a February 2020 warning letter condemning “college-sponsored anti-Semitism” from the David Horowitz Freedom Center to Pomona and Pitzer’s presidents.
News
Jose Martinez leaves Pomona College Dining management amid Dining Services controversies
Pomona College’s former Dining Services General Manager Jose Martinez is no longer employed by Pomona College, as a college spokesperson confirmed in an email statement to TSL. The circumstances surrounding Martinez’s departure, which follows student opposition to the previously planned closure of Milk & Honey, remain unclear.
CMC celebrates 50 years of co-education
From Sept. 25 to Sept. 26, Claremont McKenna (CMC) celebrated its 50th anniversary of co-education. CMC was initially founded as a men’s college in 1946, but officially opened enrollment to all genders in 1976. The Sept. 25 panel invited members from the class of 1980 — the first class of graduates that included women — to reflect on the historical evolution of CMC’s co-education, during which speakers emphasized the importance of accessible education to all genders. In interviews with TSL, some alumni explained what it was like to be women at CMC then and how that experience persists today.
Pomona, CMC and Harvey Mudd top U.S. News & World Report’s liberal arts college rankings
In the new U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, Claremont McKenna College (CMC) and Pomona College tied for third place, an increase from their joint seventh place spot last year. Harvey Mudd College also made its way into the top 10, ranking eighth. The publication considered “earnings by major” for the first time this year, a shift that placed greater emphasis on measurable post-graduate outcomes.
Third ever Leftist Coffee Hour encourages unity among student activists
On Friday, Sept. 15, student activist organizations from across the 5Cs gathered at The Motley Coffeehouse for the third edition of the “Leftist Coffee Hour.” The Leftist Coffee Hour is an event featuring 15 different leftist-identifying student organizations, with representatives conducting presentations about their civic concerns, followed by a club showcase. The event enabled students to understand how to get politically engaged in issues such as environmental justice, prison abolition, affordable housing and more. Miranda Elder PO ’29, co-president of Inclusive Claremont, a club that advocates for affordable housing, echoed the importance of these gatherings, noting that one of the objectives of the Coffee Hour is creating an active community of progressive activists.
Pomona Dining Services meal plan changes raise concern over shared governance
The changes were informed by Dining Services’ ongoing consultation with Webb Foodservice Design Group, a consulting group that Pomona hired in January 2026 to implement wider changes within Dining Services across the next two years. In a resolution passed on Sept. 24, the Associated Students of Pomona College (ASPC) condemned Dining Services’ lack of discussion with students amidst recent decisions, and called for Pomona to renew their commitment to shared governance.
Pomona and UNITE HERE begin negotiations for a new contract amid ULP filing, delegation
Pomona College and UNITE HERE Local 11, the union representing the college’s dining service employees, began negotiations on Sept. 8 for a new collective bargaining agreement.
Elias Pluecker PO ’28, student organizer for UNITE HERE and a member of the Pomona chapter of the Claremont Student Worker Alliance (CSWA) and, said that many employees are struggling to make ends meet and often commute from far away, unable to afford living closer to the college.
Pomona welcomes back senior citizen auditors after CALL’s hiatus
This fall, senior citizens from the city of Claremont are eligible to audit select Pomona College courses through the Claremont Avenues for Lifelong Learning Program (CALL) for the first time since the program was paused amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
William Dudley kicks off first semester as CMC’s sixth president
William Dudley took on the mantle of president at Claremont McKenna College in July, officially succeeding Hiram Chodosh. Originally a philosophy professor and most recently the president of Washington & Lee University, Dudley will be the college’s sixth president.
Pomona tests Boodlebox AI in classroom, establishes AI committee
This semester, Pomona College is navigating a rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape. The college is currently deciding whether to implement BoodleBox AI, a collaborative platform built for higher education, and has also formed a committee to address AI’s role in students’ and faculty members’ lives. According to BoodleBox’s website, the