<p>I’m glad I was able to give you a chuckle.</p>
<p>For the most part, college rivalry is a healthy thing, not a bad thing.</p>
<p>b/t/w-- after that bit of bad news yesterday about CMcK and the SAT scores, an article appeared today in the NYTimes about Pomona’s labor dispute with cafeteria staff and its firing 17 immigrant workers. Does anyone believe that CMcK operatives could be behind this latest article on old news, just to keep the Pomona-CMcK score even? ;-)</p>
<p><a href=“Immigrant Worker Firings Unsettle Pomona College - The New York Times”>Immigrant Worker Firings Unsettle Pomona College - The New York Times;
<p>Mexican billionaire, Carlos Slim, is a major investor in the New York Times.</p>
<p>[Carlos</a> Slim-New York Times: Mexican Billionaire boosts stake in newspaper group](<a href=“http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/08/24/carlos_slim_new_york_times_mexican_billionaire_boosts_stake_in_n.html]Carlos”>http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/08/24/carlos_slim_new_york_times_mexican_billionaire_boosts_stake_in_n.html)</p>
<p>The Times has become a strong supporter of amnesty for illegal immigrants to the U.S., and the current editors have become increasingly interested in reporting on stories such as this one. As you said, these events are months old, so it would be interesting to know who is lobbying for this news coverage!</p>
<p>Perhaps Stanford?</p>
<p>For anyone who thinks I am a Pomona critic, I will go on record fully supporting the Pomona administration in this matter. Since when is following the law problematical.</p>
<p>Good question, P57. The college is under an obligation to follow federal law.</p>
<p>I would also wager a bet that a referendum on this issue affirming this federal law would pass overwhelmingly in Ca and probably in the US.</p>
<p>Some critics (incuding a visiting professor of Pomona) say that not once, in the history of the Federal Gov’t, have they enforced immigration documentation law on college campuses, and they probably never will, given that they have much larger immigration issues on their hands.
Does this mean that they shouldn’t abide by the law? No. However, it is interesting that given the fact that they hired these workers, some, decades ago, without the proper documentation, and knew so for x many years, that they would suddenly decide to enforce the documentation laws given the fact that there is a minuscule probability that the federal government would ever knock on Pomona’s door.</p>
<p>It seems that the decision to enforce the documentation laws was prompted by a letter of complaint to the Board of Trustees. If a college is notified of a situation like this, the Board minutes record the discussion, and nothing is done to enter into legal compliance, there are a whole host of liability issues that arise.</p>
<p>For example, imagine a scenario in which a dining hall worker, also an illegal immigrant, runs an errand for his/her job in a car, runs a red light and hits someone else, causing a fatality. The driver has no insurance, but since they were on the job, the employer is liable. AND over and above this, the College is likely liable for a whole host of additional damages because they did not take action over the original letter of complaint, and instead continued to knowingly employ illegal immigrants. Once the College is outside compliance, the legal penalties can be very steep and unforgiving. The assets of the College, including property value, are suddenly fair game in a court of law awarding a settlement to a family who has lost a loved one through the negligent actions of the employer. </p>
<p>Having been on the employer side of a scenario not too dissimilar to this one, I have empathy for the actions of the College. My understanding is that they offered to pay the legal fees of employees who had difficulty obtaining documentation, or who had an opportunity to obtain the legal right to work in the U.S. I think they extended themselves as far as they could in trying to be helpful while still abiding by the law. It’s not simply a matter of gauging whether the INS will call an institution’s bluff. The problem is a good deal more involved. </p>
<p>Note that colleges that contract out for dining hall work are not liable for their employees in the same way that Pomona, as a direct employer of this staff, is legally responsible.</p>
<p>This will probably force Pomona to contract out dining hall services in the future. I agree that Pomona would be taking on considerable liability if they did nothing.</p>
<p>Considering that Pomona took over from Sodexho a couple of years ago doubt if they would switch to contracting out anytime soon.</p>
<p>parent57, has your son seen your posts here. I think he would find it rather embarrassing. Does he or his friends know that you are relaying their sentiments (accurately or not) without their knowledge on this board ? Do you have a chip on your shoulders that you have a need to comment so negatively on Pomona’s board ?
Perhaps we should copy and paste all your comments here on CMC’s board and someone may just recognize you.</p>
<p>To parent57 (and other parents involved in this exchange),</p>
<p>Let me first preface this by saying that I in no way mean to belittle you, degrade you, insult you, or diminish you or your opinions. You have every right to them.</p>
<p>That being said, this is not the forum for this argument. This is a thread, primarily for student information, to discuss Pomona College. It is meant, along with the rest of this site, to provide information to prospective families about the schools so they can make informed decisions during the entire college application process.</p>
<p>I am not saying that any one party is innocent or guilty, but schools have reputations. It is inevitable and necessary. LLL was merely trying to give a concise overview of the other schools for students. If the students wish to know more about the other 5C’s, they would most likely look at other forums related to those colleges. The overviews were not meant to be offensive, and of course, there are exceptions to any “rule.” All of the 5C’s are excellent institutions.</p>
<p>Now, you are a parent (and yes, there are other parents participating in this too), yet have been engaged in a type of argument with many users. Remember that you are talking to students here. As a parent, you should be setting an example that you would want your child(ren) to follow. Is saying a college kid, presumably at least twenty years your junior, is overreacting and screaming bloody murder really the best way to be setting that example? We rely on our parents for guidance and for them to tell us the right thing to do and how to do it. We are taught to be respectful and kind to others, and in my opinion, your conduct in this forum has not been ideal.</p>
<p>I ask you to please take your comments to a different forum so we can return to the intended purpose of this thread.</p>
<p>It is a fact, but not relevant, that writer Richard Perez-Pena and former editor Bill Keller are both Pomona College alumni.</p>
<p>To Saghen16,</p>
<p>I just saw this post for the first time. Out of curiosity, are you a student or an employee of the college.</p>
<p>“This is a thread, primarily for student information, to discuss Pomona College.”</p>
<p>Sounds good.</p>
<p>“If the students wish to know more about the other 5C’s, they would most likely look at other forums related to those colleges.”</p>
<p>I agree, so why is it necessary for some Pomona posters to stereotype the other schools inaccurately. As you said, the forum is to discuss Pomona College. It might behoove you to discuss with one particular Pomona ED student poster (and a few other Pomona posters) why they need to hang around the CMC forum disparaging the school with inaccurate stereotypes and other inflammatory rhetoric. I don’t see CMC students coming here engaging in that type of behavior. I understand I am not liked around here, but if some posters want to disparage the other schools in the consortium, I am going to let you know. </p>
<p>BTW, Pomona is not going to win a lot of friends at the other schools, when you have a few students who seem intent on expressing their ill-informed opinion about the other schools. Before you accuse me of exaggerating, since you either work at Pomona or are a student there, why don’t you visit the other schools and ask the students how they feel about Pomona.</p>
<p>For the record, parent57, none of my comments in the CMC forum were disparaging of CMC or the other 5C institutions.</p>
<p>Sagehen16, I am a parent poster and I agree with you. Having parents getting into arguments with the student posters here is unproductive and tiresome. The parents have their own forum at CC to argue the pros and cons of their children’s colleges to their hearts’ desires.</p>
<p>Momogold, the only times I venture here is to correct some of the students and, at times, some of the parents who like to characterize the other schools in the consortium incorrectly and in a demeaning way. What is interesting is if you go to the forums of the other four schools, you never see this type of behavior. For some reason it seems to be confined only to the Pomona forum. I wonder why that is?</p>