As a liberal arts institution, Pomona constantly reinvents itself to suit the changing needs of the students’ academic interests. In keeping with its mission, Pomona is contemplating adding two new features to the current curriculum: a Jewish Studies professor and a Dynamics of Difference and Power requirement.

According to Dean of Students Anne Quinley, the Jewish Studies program will consist of one professor brought in by the generosity of a donor. The professor, whom the college is hoping to recruit at a junior level, will start the program based on her strengths. The professor will not definitely reside in the Religious Studies department, but instead will be placed in her field of specialty. The college is in the process of beginning the search for such a professor. The target date for the search to begin is autumn.

The Dynamics of Difference and Power requirement (DDP) began in its conceptual form over seven years ago. At the time, "students approached trustees to make the school better for students of color," said Quinley. Resultant of these meetings was the creation of the Committee for the DDP requirement.

DDP "addresses difference and power as being relevant to the ways we interact with others, view material in class, and live our daily lives in a country as diverse and full of power relationships as ours," said Regan Douglass ‘02, a member of the committee.

Students have felt a need to address the issues of power between groups that most must grapple with in everyday life. Many other academic institutions have similar requirements.

The committee is trying to move forward with its plans for a requirement, but it is difficult to gauge faculty sentiment at this time. The requirement would most likely be an overlay, much like the speaking and writing intensive requirements.

"In light of recent events, we should be more dedicated than ever to talking about power dynamics, and to understanding the importance of discussing nuanced differences and locating power rather than grouping, stereotyping, and blaming," said Douglass.

Not everyone, however, is in favor of the new requirement. "Anytime someone proposes a new requirement, I think they have a very heavy burden of proof…to show two things," said Adam Rick ’02. "First they need to demonstrate that there is something important lacking from the Pomona curriculum and second, they have to show that the proposed requirement will fill that gap, and I don’t think that the proposers of the DDP requirement have met either of those standards."

"Interestingly, this is a requirement that’s supposed to encourage discussion, but beyond one Senate meeting, there has been no inquiry into what students think about the final DDP proposal," Rick said. Rick served as the North Campus Representative on the ASPC Senate last year, and was a vocal opponent of the DDP requirement while in office.