By Emma Grace Howlett ’25
When I first chose Pomona as my new school for the next four years, I did so on account of the “big” things: its liberal arts ideology, its size, its professors, its location, and so on. But after a year in Claremont, I realized it is actually the “little” things that make Pomona not just a school, but a community, and a home.
Though often overlooked, the residence and dining hall staff do just as much as my peers and professors in creating a welcoming, homey environment. Whether we exchange a heartfelt greeting, a gracious nod of the head, or hold the door open for one another, my fleeting interactions with the residence staff contribute so much to my optimistic attitude about college. The dining hall staff are chatty, always ready with a cheery greeting, and quick to ask how I am and wish me good luck on an upcoming test or soccer game. They are adamant about encouraging tired students to eat breakfast, the “most important meal of the day.” These daily interactions inspire me to be more generous and kind towards people in passing interactions, as it is these small meetings that create a holistically compassionate campus culture.
I live in a reverent attitude of gratitude for not only the dining hall staff, but also the physical architecture and art of Frary Dining Hall. The mural “Genesis” graces the arched South entrance, in which the biblical figure Noah crouches wearily, having survived the flood. Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, and other shadowy figures watch above students as they enter the hall. These Frary steps are a popular venue for 5C acapella performances, as the steps provide audience seating and the mural lends itself to a moody backdrop. Inside the hall, the massive, muscular Greek god Prometheus presents the fire of knowledge to a crowd of cowing, yet awed humans. This dynamic, striking mural is the centerpiece not only of the dining hall, but also of Pomona’s campus. Accented by a commanding hearth, hanging chandeliers, rich wood paneling, and a vaulted ceiling, the mural elevates Frary from a dining hall to a cultural and artistic touchstone.
There is no better setting for Pomona’s annual Harry Potter-themed dinner than Frary. For the month of October, the Hogwarts House banners fly above four long House tables, and flying broomsticks hover above. Hedwig can be seen perched in a high alcove, and as Christmas approaches, trees decorated in Gryffindor colors line the walls. Upon entrance, the Sorting Hat greets you with a mischievous grin, and the dining hall staff stride about in billowing Hogwarts robes, serving butterbeer and golden snitch cake pops.
While Frary Dining Hall has no rival in its splendor, Frank Dining Hall is loved by a cult following for its homey feel and allegedly superior menu. Furnished with blue carpets and gleaming wooden tables and chairs, Frank also features outdoor seating alongside a blue tile fountain and magenta bougainvillea flowers. Frank Dining Hall is famous for its chocolate fountain, as well as its themed dinners such as Mushroom Day. On Farm to Frank day, all the ingredients are fresh, organic, and locally sourced, the salads are garnished with edible flowers, and students flock to assemble their own acai bowls heaped with berries. The courtyard overflows with colorful produce such as grapes, peppers, watermelons, and tomatoes, the fruit lying in colorful splendor for students to gather.
With enthusiasm and care, the dining and residence hall staff work hard to create special experiences like these themed dinners. My friends and I truly feel that they care for our wellbeing. Pomona’s dining hall and residence staff cook our food and clean our dorms, but most importantly they set an example of kindness and courtesy.