Four Pomona students wrote the following open letter to the Pomona community to announce that they will fast until the Trustees of Pomona College agree to meet with dining hall employees.
To Whom It May Concern:
We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with all those affected by the recent document check, particularly the 17 Pomona dining hall employees who lost their livelihoods on December 1. Since these individuals who prepared our meals everyday are no longer here, we have begun fasting and will continue to do so until we know that their voices will be heard.
We are deeply disappointed with the Board’s recent decisions and support all attempts made by faculty, Concerned Pomona Students, and other community members to initiate dialogue with the Board of Trustees. As active participants and supporters of the extended vigil outside of Alexander Hall, we are in part inspired by our peers’ willingness to sacrifice their comfort and time for their beliefs.
We do not believe the Board has yet responded to the concerns of Pomona community members in direct and substantive ways. We therefore request that the Trustees of Pomona College agree to hold a meeting with dining hall employees—including those who were terminated on December 1—and with a small group of students when the Board convenes on Pomona’s campus next week. To further ensure transparency and honesty from all parties involved in this process, we ask that the Board allow this meeting to be recorded.
Only by recognizing all workers—including those who were terminated—as integral members of Pomona College and actively listening to their concerns can the Board truly honor its commitment to inclusiveness. Because the 17 employees dedicated valuable years of their lives in service to our community; we now commit ourselves to continue to fast until the Board schedules this meeting.
In hopes of a more equitable Pomona,
Isabel Juarez PO ‘13
Will Mullaney PO ‘12
Andrew Davis Saul PO ‘14
Tracy Zhao PO ‘13
The Claremont Port Side always welcomes letters to the editor, but the opinions expressed in them are those of the authors alone, not necessarily of the Port Side.
Editor’s note: For more coverage of the Pomona documentation and unionization issues, see our coverage of last week’s protests and arrests, the Alexander Hall vigil, the NLRB’s accusations against Pomona, and President Oxtoby’s forum with students.
