Students at Pomona College say a series of racist incidents has surfaced on campus, including allegations that athletes and a faculty member used a racial slur. The claims have reignited debate over campus climate at the small liberal-arts school in Claremont. Alumni and students who spoke to reporters say they worry the reports reflect a broader pattern rather than isolated moments of bad behavior.
New claims aired by local TV
As reported by FOX 11 Los Angeles, students described several separate episodes and said some involved athletes and at least one faculty member using an explicitly racist slur. The station posted its report on March 17 and included brief clips of students speaking about what they say happened. According to FOX 11, the segment did not reference any formal disciplinary filings tied to the accounts it broadcast.
College has documented past harassment
In a message on the college website, President G. Gabrielle Starr said protesters had "verbally harass[ed] staff, even using a sickening, anti-black racial slur" during an April 2024 demonstration. Administrators warned at the time that participants could face suspension. The episode, which is documented on Pomona’s site, led to arrests and sparked a wider campus debate about protest rules and masking. Students and faculty say that the earlier controversy shapes how the new allegations are landing now.
Settlement and federal oversight add pressure
Pomona resolved a Title VI complaint in December 2025, agreeing to appoint a Title VI coordinator, require training, and adopt other procedural changes, according to The Student Life. That settlement followed warnings from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, which sent letters to about 60 colleges, including Pomona, and increased scrutiny of how campuses handle bias complaints, the Claremont Independent reported.
Students demand action
Students and campus groups who spoke to FOX 11 Los Angeles say they want clearer accountability and faster responses from administrators. Some argue the latest reports show that training sessions and new written policies will not be enough unless the college follows through with consistent implementation and enforcement.
Legal implications
Under Title VI, universities that fail to address race- or ancestry-based harassment can face federal enforcement measures, including mandated policy changes and potential financial consequences. The concern was highlighted when the Office for Civil Rights issued its letters to campuses, as noted in Claremont Independent coverage. That context raises the stakes for Pomona as it starts to put its settlement commitments into practice.
The new allegations increase the pressure on college leaders to prove that recent promises amount to more than revised language on official documents. Students and alumni say they will be watching to see whether investigations follow and whether the results translate into visible changes in campus life.
