The Claremont College Consortium’s Queer Resource Center’s (QRC) “BlaQ Mixer,” which previously explicitly excluded non-black students, is now open to all students. The Independent previously reported that the event description was “a closed event for black queer, trans, & intersex students, staff and faculty at the 7Cs [the Claremont University Consortium].” However, within the last 24 hours the QRC altered the event description to read that the “event centers [around] black queer, trans, and intersex students, staff, and faculty at the 7Cs [Claremont University Consortium]. All allies are welcome.”
This change came soon after the Independent wrote an editorial criticizing segregation on college campuses. The editorial also questioned the legality of such events.
Last year, Scripps College, a member of the Claremont College consortium hosted a People of Color (POC) only pool party; which was later opened to the public after Independent reporting. This came only months after a Pacific Islanders only party was also opened after an Independent inquiry.
All discriminatory events that are run by a college resource are in violation of federal anti-discrimination regulations that prohibit discrimination based on race, creed, or national origin; the penalty for violation could result in the elimination of federal funds, which many private institutions—including all the Claremont Colleges—receive.
The Independent reached out to the QRC this morning asking for a comment on the change of the event description, but at the time of publication, has not yet received a response.
The Claremont University Consortium includes the Claremont Colleges—Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges—and Claremont Graduate University and the Keck Graduate Institute.