Alcohol and Drug Policies

Alcohol Policy

The health and well-being of every Pomona student is the responsibility of each community member and of the entire community and is the primary focus of the following policy. The College recognizes that responsible alcohol use can be compatible with healthy adult behavior and successful social events.

Our intent is to ensure the safety of our students and to ensure that the College’s environment remains conducive to the intellectual, cultural and social learning and growth that is the College’s mission. Pomona College takes a therapeutic approach when working with students involved in alcohol policy violations. Every effort is made to connect students with appropriate resources on campus. Pomona College employs a Drug and Alcohol Counselor with whom students may speak in strict confidence. Jasa Cocke is located in Wig hall and her telephone number is 909-607-8763.

The alcohol policy was written by the Student Affairs Committee on which students, faculty, and administrators serve together. The Student Affairs Committee has final authority over the regulations that govern student life at Pomona College. Pomona College complies with and enforces all federal, state, and local laws governing alcohol consumption and distribution.

1. Regulations
   1. Students 21 years of age and older are permitted to possess and drink alcoholic beverages at Pomona but may not distribute, furnish, or serve alcohol to people under 21years of age or to obviously intoxicated persons of any age.
   2. Students under 21 years of age may not consume, possess, distribute, or sell any alcoholic beverage.
   3. Pomona students who live off campus are bound by this policy.
   4. From the time that students arrive on campus in August until the beginning of the second week of classes, the College does not permit alcoholic beverages to be served or consumed anywhere on campus. This period is known as “Substance-Free Opening.” All students, regardless of age or class standing, are required to observe Substance Free Opening. Substance Free Opening bans all alcohol use by students on north and south campus regardless of age. Violations may jeopardize leadership positions such as a Sponsor or Mentor, Admissions Intern, Residence Advisor, Head Sponsor, Orientation Adventure Leader, among other positions. Substance Free Opening violations may also result in Judiciary Council hearings if other Student Code violations are associated with the sanctioned incident.
   5. Because of the dangers it poses, possession or consumption of hard alcohol is viewed with special disfavor by the College. Hard alcohol is not allowed in south campus residence halls. Students of any age who violate college policies while using or distributing hard alcohol will face enhanced sanctions. Virtually all of the alcohol poisoning cases on the Pomona College campus involve hard alcohol consumption.
   6. Operating a motorized vehicle, a bicycle, or a skateboard on Claremont Colleges’ property while under the influence of alcohol is prohibited. Motorized vehicles include cars, golf carts, and motorcycles, among other vehicles.
   7. Excessive consumption of alcohol is often a contributing factor in violations of other important college policies. These policies include those addressing vandalism, noise, and misuse of fire safety equipment. The involvement of alcohol in such violations may be considered a compounding factor by Deans and Judicial Boards in assigning sanctions.
   8. Unsafe drinking behavior, especially drinking games and contests, will be subject to sanctions. The College strongly discourages “front-loading” and “doing shots” of hard alcohol because these behaviors maximize the dangers associated with intoxication and the risk of alcohol poisoning. “Front-loading” is the consumption of large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time prior to attending a social event.
   9. Public drunkenness is not permitted.
   10. Students may not drink alcoholic beverages in public areas on campus, except at officially registered parties and social events at which those over 21 years of age may be served or at private gatherings in common living room areas of student suites (applicable for students who are 21 years of age and older). Campus social events are officially registered with the Office of the Campus Center and are subject to the conditions outlined in the Party and Social Event Regulations.
   11. Open containers of alcohol or cups containing alcoholic drinks may not be carried around campus or in public spaces in the residence halls.
   12. Private gatherings in residence hall rooms or the common living room areas of student suites that violate the College’s Alcohol and Drug Policies, infringe on public space, or become a public nuisance, will be dispersed. Students who host or attend such parties will be sanctioned appropriately. Hosts are responsible for the behavior of those who attend.
   13. Kegs and other common containers of alcohol, with the exception of bottles of wine, are prohibited in residence halls and in all other areas of the campus, except when officially registered. Kegs may not be registered in residential spaces. Common containers of alcohol include kegs, kegerators, pony kegs, punch bowls, water coolers, and other such containers obviously meant to serve a large number of individuals.

   14. The Amnesty Policy is a provision that emphasizes health and safety issues take precedence over conduct. Students are encouraged to put their health and safety or the health and safety of others above all other concerns. The College encourages reporting of health and safety emergencies and seeks to remove any barriers to reporting by providing limited amnesty for individuals who report such emergencies. [reasons we ask for names, staying with student, etc.] Consequently, when a student in need of immediate medical assistance to prevent their own death or serious injury or that of another person contacts Campus Safety, the On-Call Dean, Residence Life staff, or 911, neither the reporting student(s) nor the student(s) at risk will be held responsible for their own consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages or drugs provided: 

       • The reporting student(s) provide their own name when making the report, and 

       • The reporting student(s) remain with the person needing medical assistance until help arrives*.  

       This offer of amnesty refers to isolated incidents only and does not excuse or protect those who flagrantly and/or repeatedly violate the College’s drug and alcohol standards and expectations. It applies only to suspected or actual life-threatening circumstances due to alcohol or drug use and does not extend to related infractions such as assault or property damage. Although students or student organizations covered under this policy will not be subject to the conduct process, individuals involved will be required to meet with an administrator to discuss the incident and may be required to complete a substance use assessment. The incident may also result in notification of parent(s) or guardian(s). This policy only covers how the College will respond to students who could be involved in our student conduct process and does not cover criminal charges that could result from law enforcement based on the incident. 

       *This serves as two-fold purpose: If a student is intoxicated enough to require medical assistance the person(s) involved should remain to not only support the student (whether friend or stranger) and also be able to give details to medical personnel about events leading up to the call for help. 

   15. The entire Pomona College community is responsible for the well-being of prospective students visiting the campus. Giving or offering drugs or alcohol to a prospective student will result in sanctions.
   16. Brewing beer, distilling alcohol, or fermenting wine is not permitted on campus.

1. Party and Social Events Regulation

The College allows student organizations and individual students to register parties and social events that serve alcohol (“registered events”) in specified campus locations. The College reserves the right to revoke or alter the specific spaces in which registered events can be held and the frequency with which registration may occur.

The following regulations apply to ALL registered events

1. Beer and wine are the only alcoholic beverages that may be served or consumed at registered events.
2. Beer includes all fermented beverages with an alcohol content of up to 6%. Wine includes champagne and other sparkling wines with alcohol content of up to 14%.
3. Alcohol may not be purchased with funds collected as mandatory fees by the College, including all fees turned over to the ASPC by the College for the purpose of supporting student activities.
4. Alcoholic beverages may not be sold at any campus event without an appropriate State license.
5. Alcoholic beverages may not be served at registered events that are open to the general public.
6. Events at which alcohol is served may not be registered during reading days or during the final examination period.
7. Consumption or possession of alcohol at athletic events is prohibited.
8. Alcohol may not be served at study breaks. A study break is an event that is limited in duration (1-2 hours) and intended to provide a time to relax after studying.
9. Individuals are prohibited from bringing their own alcoholic beverages to any registered event or from taking alcoholic beverages out of events or social functions.
10. The number of people attending a registered event who may legally drink will determine the amount of alcoholic beverages available.

1. The following regulations apply only to registered events held in PUBLIC SPACE
   1. Locations in which this category of events may currently be registered include: Smith Campus Center locations (Edmunds Ballroom, the Courtyard, Doms Social Room); Sontag Greek Theater; the lobby of Bridges Auditorium; Frank Dining Hall; and Frary Dining Hall.
   2. Events at which alcohol is served must be registered with and approved by the Office of the Campus Center and Student Programs in Suite 244 of the Smith Campus Center, at 909-621-8610.
   3. Only students of The Claremont Colleges who present valid College identification cards and their guests and/or visitors with guest passes are permitted to attend registered events. Guest passes may be obtained at the Office of Campus Life or at the Smith Campus Center Building Manager’s window.
   4. Students of the Claremont Colleges must show their college-issued ID card, as proof of age, at the point of alcohol service. Visitors of students, who possess a valid Guest Pass, must show their Driver’s License with their Guest Pass, at the point of alcohol service.
   5. Registered events in public space must have one or more of the College’s servers on duty at all times to serve alcohol. Servers ensure that only those are served who:
      • are 21 years of age or older
      • possess identification that confirms their age
      • are not intoxicated.

No event with alcohol may begin or continue without a College server in charge of alcohol distribution. Servers are hired by the Office of the Campus Center and Student Programs after an event is registered.

1. Campus Safety Officers must be hired for the duration of public events at which alcohol is served. Campus Safety Officers are hired by the Office of the Campus Center and Student Programs after an event is registered.
2. All registered events in public space must have a host or hosts who are present for the duration of the event. If alcohol is served, at least one host must be 21 years of age or older. Hosts contact the Office of the Campus Center and Student Programs to arrange appropriate numbers of servers and Campus Safety officers and to ensure that the party does not begin or continue without their presence. Hosts are also responsible for ending the event at the agreed upon time and for ensuring clean-up of the event site.
3. High-quality non-alcoholic beverages and appealing food must be readily available and accessible at social events throughout the duration of the event.
4. A public registered student event serving alcohol can only be held from Sunday night through Wednesday night if it meets all of the following criteria:
   • The entity hosting the event is an academic or administrative department
   • The event ends by 9:30 pm
   • All attendees to the event must RSVP in advance of the event, and there are 35 participants or less
5. Unregistered social gatherings in undesignated spaces including classroom buildings, residence hall rooms and suites, and common areas, that violate the College’s Alcohol and Drug Policies, infringe on public space, or become a public nuisance are not permitted, will be dispersed, and may be sanctioned. A social gathering may be dispersed if it includes (1) excessively loud noise or (2) a violation of any section of the Alcohol and Other Drugs policy. Students who host such gatherings are responsible for the behavior of those who attend.

1. Advertising Alcohol

​​In order to avoid a hidden culture of alcohol use and in order to advertise a diversity of events, publicity about particular types of alcohol is permitted. Electronic media in which social events are advertised on the Pomona campus (but not the other four undergraduate campuses) may include reference to the type of alcohol being served. For example, events which are wine tasting, wine and cheese receptions, champagne brunches, Oktoberfest, etc. may be noted as such, but alcohol may not be the focus of publicity.

Electronic advertising which is sent to students, faculty and staff at Pomona to announce social events must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Advertising may specify the type of alcohol being served (for example, wine, champagne, sake) but it may not specify brands.
2. Advertising may not specify the quantity of alcohol present.
3. Advertising may not portray drinking as a solution to personal or academic problems of students or as an enhancement to social, sexual, or academic status, nor may it be portrayed as the central purpose of the event.
4. Advertising may not encourage drinking or make reference to drunkenness.
5. Posters, banners, flyers, and other print media which are designed to be displayed on campus and in public may not mention alcohol when advertising parties, or other events.

1. Private event regulations
   1. Students over 21 years of age who have participated in the College’s host safety training program may register wine, a single pony keg or a single keg of beer for a social event in the spaces that the college designates annually.
   2. Events of this nature may occur only on Friday and Saturday nights for up to four hours in duration, anytime between 5:00 PM and 2:00 AM. They must be registered with and approved by the Office of Campus Center and Student Programs at least 24 hours in advance.
   3. Private parties may not be advertised. Any beer or wine served at private parties must be provided and paid for by the host(s).
   4. The student registering the event shall be considered the event host. Hosts must:
      • Ensure that no student who is obviously intoxicated or under 21 years of age is served
      • Assume responsibility for the conduct of party guests and/or visitors (including those with guest passes)
      • Ensure that the event does not violate the College noise policy
      • Ensure that the event does not spill over into public space
      • Ensure that the event is not excessively crowded
      • Be present and sufficiently sober to carry out all hosting obligations for the duration of the event. Hosts who fail to fulfill any of these obligations will no longer be permitted to register an event and will face sanctions.

The violations listed above in part C are subject to the following potential sanctions:

1. Warning.
2. Points.
3. Confiscation of alcohol, false ID Cards and other prohibited items; Removal of brewing or distilling materials and equipment from campus.
4. Citation by Campus Safety or arrest by the Claremont Police Department; filing of an incident report by a Resident Advisor (RA).
5. Mandatory meeting with a Dean.
6. Suspension from social events where alcohol is served.
7. Loss or suspension from campus housing or dining.
8. Suspension or denial of permission to hold further social events.
9. Community service.
10. Required participation in an alcohol education program.
11. Suspension or loss of organizational status.
12. Referral to the Judiciary Council for disciplinary action where penalties up to suspension and expulsion may be imposed.
13. Sanctions that specifically address a particular violation.

Federal, State and Local Law

• Students are not exempt from local, state, and federal law while on the Pomona College campus.
• The federal government, through the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, requires that colleges enforce state and local laws concerning drugs and alcohol in order to remain eligible for federal funds including federal student financial aid.
• California has a strict host liability law. If a student sells or serves alcohol, they can be held responsible in a court of law for the conduct of any individual who is served if that person subsequently injures themselves, becomes ill, dies, or injures a third party. This is especially true when the person served is a minor or is already intoxicated.
• The City of Claremont prohibits public intoxication, open containers of alcohol in vehicles, and consuming alcohol in public parks.

Resources for Students

​No student will be sanctioned for seeking alcohol counseling or assistance for themselves and/or other students. Any information the deans receive will remain confidential unless it appears that the life or safety of a student is at stake.

Pomona College encourages its students to discuss safe alcohol use and/or the issues and problems associated with alcohol abuse with any one of the individuals listed below. Students are encouraged to approach any Dean, Resident Advisor or Faculty member with whom they feel comfortable if they suspect that they or one of their fellow students has an alcohol abuse problem.

• Jasa Cocke - Pomona College Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Wig Hall 1A, ext. 78763.
• On-Call Deans - a dean is available for assistance 24 hours a day when students are on campus. Call ext. 72000, and have Campus Safety page the dean.
• Student members of the Residence Hall Staff (RHS) - (909) 607-2000, ext 21 and 22 for North Campus, 23 and 24 for South Campus.
• Community Resources - The Claremont United Church of Christ Congregational at the corner of Harrison and Harvard Avenues provides a space for Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Students are welcome to attend any and all of the AA meetings they offer. Meeting times include:
  • Adult Children of Alcoholics –
    Mon. 7 pm, Rm. 205.
  • Alcoholics Anonymous –
    Daily: 7 AM daily (365 days a year),
  • Women’s group –
    Monday, 10:30 AM, Sumner Room
    Monday, 6:30 PM, Sumner Room.
    Tuesday, 8 PM, Roberts Room.
    Wednesday, 8 PM, Sumner Room.
    Thursday, 10 AM Women’s group, Club Room downstairs.
    Friday, 6:30 PM, Women’s group, Sumner Room.
    Saturday, 11 AM, Sumner Room.
  • Project Sister –
    24-hour Help Line • 909.626.HELP (909.626.4357) • 626.966.4155 7 days a week
  • House of Ruth –
    24-Hour Hotline: 909-988-5559

Pomona College Drug Policy

Statement of Purpose

Pomona College believes that students have the right to live and work in an environment free from the effects of drugs and drug abuse. Accountability and shared responsibility serve as the overarching principles that shape this policy. In that spirit the policy aims to clarify the responsibilities of community members, define appropriate behaviors, describe the College’s response to hazardous, illegal or disruptive behavior, and inform community members about the resources available for addressing drug-related concerns and problems.

In accordance with state and federal laws, Pomona College has established these priorities:

• To provide an atmosphere free from the manufacture, sale, distribution, use or abuse of illegal or prescription drugs
• To stress safety, and individual accountability for all Pomona College students
• To establish clear penalties for violating the College’s drug policy
• To provide students with information about confidential on‐ and off‐campus resources to address issues related to drug use and abuse.

All Pomona College students are expected to comply with federal, state, and local laws, to follow the requirements of the College’s drug policy and to respect the right to a drug free environment shared by all members of the campus community. Violations of the Pomona College Drug Policy or of any of the state laws of California are subject to disciplinary action.

Pomona College operates under an Amnesty Policy. Each Pomona student shares responsibility for the safety and well-being of other students in our community. Failing to seek assistance for a student who seems dangerously ill from the effects of drugs will result in sanctions. In medical emergencies, students should always seek help from college officials (Resident Advisors, Deans or Campus Safety).  If a student seeks or receives medical attention for consumption of drugs or alcohol, or aids someone else in seeking or receiving medical attention, then that student shall not be sanctioned, except for referrals to AOD counseling, for violations of the Handbook directly related to consumption of drugs or alcohol. Furthermore, students cannot be sanctioned for violations of the Student Handbook if the proximate cause of the College’s discovery that they violated the Handbook was their own reporting for the sake of seeking, receiving, or aiding someone else in seeking or receiving medical attention. Judicial bodies also have the discretion to determine that this policy does not apply in more serious situations, including criminal possession of drugs, property damage, violence, etc. Judicial bodies shall consider and set a reasonable temporal limit when applying the “Good Samaritan” policy

Drug Policy Violations

It is a violation of the Pomona College Drug Policy for students to:

• Possess, manufacture, sell, provide, distribute or use, or participate in the use of illegal drugs. Prohibited drugs include all illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD and other hallucinogens, designer drugs and prescription drugs (not including personally prescribed drugs) or other illegal drugs.
• Have drug paraphernalia in their residence hall rooms, on their person, or in any area under their immediate control.
• Violate state, federal or local laws concerning drug use, distribution, sale or manufacture.
• Pomona complies with Federal law regarding the use and possession of marijuana; therefore, marijuana use on campus is prohibited even though Proposition 64 (legalization of marijuana) passed in California in 2016, and even if the student has documentation of medically prescribed marijuana.  A student with documentation of medically prescribed marijuana may speak with the Dean of Campus Life or the Disability Coordinator regarding the application process to live off campus.

Sanctions

Violation of the drug policy will subject students to disciplinary actions that may range from probation, points, loss of housing, and up to suspension or expulsion. The College may also require a student who possesses or uses illicit drugs or is found with drug paraphernalia to participate in an approved drug rehabilitation program (at the expense of the student) and to provide the College satisfactory evidence of successful completion of the program and of being drug free.

When it is not possible to determine who within a group of students is responsible for the use, possession, manufacture, sale or distribution of drugs, responsibility for the offense will fall on the occupant in whose room or automobile or social gathering the violation occurs unless another individual within the group accepts responsibility.

Sanctions for violation of the drug policy are divided into Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3.

Category I Sanctions

Category I sanctions will be assigned to students found using, possessing or providing marijuana to other student. Category 1 will also include misusing prescription drugs or providing prescription drugs to other students. Sanctions can be found in the “Sanctions for Particular Violations of the Alcohol and Drug Policy” section of the Handbook.

Category II Sanctions

Category II sanctions will be assigned to students found using, possessing or providing cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, LSD or other hallucinogens, designer drugs or other illegal drugs not covered under Category I.

First Offense: A student found in violation will be fined $200 and required to meet with Pomona’s Drug and Alcohol Counselor until released, and to follow the Drug and Alcohol Counselor’s recommendation for treatment as a condition of remaining enrolled at Pomona College. The College will notify the student’s parents or guardian of the violation. The student will be placed on probation after the first offense involving Category II drugs.

Second Offense: A student who commits a second violation of a Category II offense will be placed on leave from the College and required to receive treatment. The student may not return to Pomona until the treating physician indicates to the satisfaction of the Dean of Students and the College’s Drug and Alcohol Counselor that the student is drug-free and able to resume his or her education.

Category III Sanctions

Category III sanctions apply when a student is found responsible for the manufacture, sale, distribution, or intent to distribute any illegal or prescription drug.

First Offense: A student found to be manufacturing, selling, distributing or intending to distribute any illegal or prescription drug will be sent to the Judicial Council with a recommendation for suspension from the College for at least one semester.

Second Offense: A student found to be manufacturing, selling, distributing or intending to distribute any illegal or prescription drug who has been found responsible for a first instance of such conduct will be referred to the Judicial Council with a recommendation for expulsion from the College. President may impose an interim College suspension prior to a hearing before a judicial body. See “Interim Suspension,” Article IV, section D of the Student Code.

Responding to Drug Policy Violations

Residence hall rooms are Pomona College property. The College respects the student’s right to privacy and college officials will not enter residence hall rooms without reasonable suspicion that college policies or regulations have been violated. When a credible report of drug use or drug sale exists or when a hazardous or disruptive situation occurs, the College reserves the right of access to student rooms, and to search property in the room owned by the College (e.g., desk, drawers, closet, bed). For health, safety or security reasons or to determine compliance with Pomona College policies, access to students’ rooms by college staff (including RAs) may occur without notice. The College reserves the right to remove items that violate college policies.

Failure to comply with the directions of College officials (including RAs) is a violation of the Student Code and will result in disciplinary action.

When a student is charged with a violation of Federal, State or Local Law, a College disciplinary action may be taken if the action also violates College policies.

Local, State and Federal laws apply to the Pomona College campus and law enforcement officials do patrol and police the Pomona campus. College officials are not able, even when they are willing, to shield students who violate the law.

The Health Risks of Drugs

The use of drugs poses significant health risks. Drugs can create psychological dependence, which is defined as a need or craving for the substance and can produce feelings of restlessness, tension or anxiety when the substance is withdrawn. Prolonged use can lead to tolerance, characterized by the need for increasing amounts of the substance to achieve the same effect. As tolerance and psychological dependence develop, judgment becomes impaired. People do not realize that they are losing control over the use of the substance and that they need help. Drugs such as LSD,  amphetamines, and marijuana alter emotion, cognition, perception, physiology and behavior in a variety of ways. Serious health risks include depression, apathy, hallucination, paranoia, and impaired judgment among other things. LSD has caused psychotic breaks in a number of students. All these substances have adverse effects on pregnancy. When two or more substances are combined, there is often an effect that is stronger than their additive sum.

Students find that drug use is incompatible with high-level academic performance. The depression, apathy, and distraction that accompany drug use have resulted in poor academic performance (failing grades) and the need to take a leave from Pomona in order to receive adequate treatment for substance abuse problems.