SoCA: protecting student spaces at Pomona
2022
As co-president of Pomona College's Black Student Union, I worked with fellow affinity-group leaders to protect spaces for students of color and oppose a proposed wall through the Students of Color Alliance (SoCA) lounge.
Shared space, not a dividing wall
When BSU's temporary meeting space was partially converted into administrative offices, administrators proposed partitioning the SoCA lounge to provide a permanent space for BSU. The lounge was already shared by several affinity groups. We refused to take space from other students of color.
“We told [Avis] that we did not feel comfortable taking space from other students of color just because space was taken from us,” Williams said.
BSU, Latinx Alliance and Caballeros & Señoritas Student Alliance hosted a town hall about the lack of permanent meeting spaces and transparency. Student organizing included a sit-in, flyers and social media posts. Administrators subsequently told The Student Life that construction plans were on hold while they explored alternatives with student input.
Advocating for a permanent space
BSU worked with the student government vice president of student affairs to propose the Heritage Lounge as a permanent meeting space. Access had not been guaranteed at the time of the article.
“These affinity groups are doing the work that student affairs should be doing, and we’re doing it for free,” Williams said. “These affinity groups are creating safe spaces on campus, not student affairs.”
In the press
The article identifies me as BSU co-president and quotes me on the loss of our temporary meeting space, our refusal to divide the SoCA lounge, and the need for spaces that support students of color.