Precious Omomofe, Class of 2024

From my experience at Pomona, it seems pretty good so far. Academic wise Pomona is very much up there and they have a lot of resources for students to make sure they can succeed and get the help they need. They have the QSC which is where a lot of Black people hang out, especially at night. My first semester we were all always there with the seniors and some of the juniors just doing work or chilling together. There are other resources like tutoring and mentoring and all that, and the professors are understanding. It also depends on which department you are in. I am in the science department. I know my professors are more understanding to a certain extent, but econ they are not as understanding. It also depends on your relationship with the professor. In terms of like, the racial culture, there are little microaggressions here and there, but they are not as bold as to say something big. And for me especially, I tend to keep my circle very POC; I surround myself with a lot of Black people and most of the people I talk to are Black. I have experienced microaggressions from people who come on campus because I work for PP athletics, so talking to other parents or adults who are white is where I have experienced microaggressions. I had an issue with a professor: he was not catering to the Black students, but we talked it out and we fixed it and everything. So there are definitely people here who will help you if you ever bring up an issue. The BSU, which I am in, has a lot of events and we encourage first years to join BSU so you can know the dynamic and everything. I feel like the Black people here all kind of know each other and we all hang out and look out for each other. It’s really nice because I feel like I have a community here. We all talk to each other and we collaborate. I have a lot of friends from the other 5Cs. The Black people here, even if you don’t know each other will still say “hi” because that’s just how it is here. Every school has its own issues with racism and anti-blackness, and Pomona definitely does have its issues but I feel like every college is about how you make the most of it, how you approach the problem, and how you almost live around the problem. I feel like a lot of the Black students here are very conscious of that so we try to make Pomona a better place for us and a more accommodating space for us. I like everyone I have met here, it does have its issues, but it is a good school.