Dear Students,
We, the ASPC Executive Council, are appalled by the actions of Pomona College on April 5, 2024. This past evening, approximately 20 students were arrested on Pomona’s campus near Alexander Hall following a nonviolent protest. Despite Campus Security’s claim that there was “no threat to the community,” a swarm of police officers dressed in riot gear descended onto College Ave. and 6th St to arrest peaceful protestors. Calling the police on students peacefully protesting is a direct call for violence and dangerous confrontation. Thus, Pomona administrators willfully chose to endanger their students, which we find unacceptable and shameful.
Per Article II, Student Affairs, Section B ii “Preliminary Sanction Review Board (PSRB)” of the Pomona Student Code, students who receive a preliminary sanction, such as suspension, are entitled to submit a petition to have the sanction reviewed by the PSRB. Students have 36 hours to submit a petition and “may ask the Dean of Students or their representative to contact the Judicial Council Advisors to notify them of their interest in appealing the preliminary sanction. The PSRB must arrive at a decision within 36 hours after the petition has been received by the Judicial Council Chair.” We urge students to reach studentaffairs@pomona.edu, avis.hinkson@pomona.edu and chair@jboard.pomona.edu to exercise their right to an appeal.
We call for Pomona College to revoke all interim suspensions issued, halt suspending additional students, and drop all charges against the protesters. By invoking interim suspension, the College is circumventing the Judicial Council and stripping students of due process and a jury of their peers. Furthermore, many students have reported that their tap access on campus has been revoked, leaving them unable to access their rooms and belongings. We call for the College to reinstate tap access for these students immediately. Preventing students from entering campus spaces such as their residence halls is unjust, especially at this hour.
History has shown expelling those you disagree with deepens fractures rather than brings a community together. Silencing students, whether it be through suspension or the confiscation of students’ protest materials, does not address the root cause of the issue we face today: the majority of the student body believes the College’s alleged morals must be reflected in its investments and associations. President Starr and the Board of Trustees cannot ignore this any longer.
As of March 25, we had scheduled a meeting with Pomona College’s Executive Staff.
It is scheduled to be this week. We plan on making the events that transpired today to be the sole focus of the meeting.
Resources:
Protest Rights
https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights
Legal Referrals
https://www.nlg.org/about/contact-us/