Campus Alert Archive
Pomona

Commencement Tent Becomes the Encampment: Pomona Moves Graduation to the Shrine After Protesters Take Marston Quad

CAcivil unrestadvisorymedium confidence

Just one month after the April 5 mass arrests at Alexander Hall, Pomona Divest from Apartheid returned to Marston Quad at 5:30 AM PDT on May 6, 2024, erecting tents on the commencement stage itself. On May 10, President G. Gabrielle Starr announced commencement would be moved off-campus to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The encampment voluntarily 'decamped' on May 12 — graduation day.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Pomona College
Private Liberal Arts · CA
~1,700 studentsPomona Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction390 chars
Pomona Community: Early this morning, a group of individuals erected tents on Marston Quad in the area designated for our upcoming commencement ceremony. Campus Safety is on scene and monitoring the situation. Faculty, staff, and students should continue with normal activities. Access to Marston Quad is restricted to those with legitimate college business. Additional updates will follow.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed; Pomona's spring 2024 protest communications were posted to a topical 'Community Updates' index but not all individual emails are public
Tents began going up at approximately 5:30 AM PDT on Marston Quad, directly on the commencement stage and around Big Bridges Auditorium
Contrast with the April 5 events at Alexander Hall: Pomona did not call Claremont PD this time and did not order arrests
UPDATEEmail+4d
Approximate reconstruction613 chars
Dear Pomona Community: After careful consideration, and in light of the continued occupation of Marston Quad by individuals who have refused to leave, this year's Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 12 will be relocated to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. We are deeply disappointed that we are unable to host this ceremony on campus as planned, and we recognize the impact this change will have on graduates and their families. Information about transportation, timing, and logistics will be sent to seniors and their families directly within the hour. We remain committed to celebrating the Class of 2024.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from TSL and Claremont COURIER coverage of President Starr's May 10 commencement-relocation email
The Shrine Auditorium is approximately 45 miles east in downtown Los Angeles
Pomona joined Columbia, USC, and Bryn Mawr as 2024 institutions that relocated commencement due to encampments
FOLLOW-UPEmail+6d
Approximate reconstruction472 chars
Pomona Community: The individuals who occupied Marston Quad have announced their decampment, and college maintenance staff are now dismantling the remaining tents and structures. While this morning's events are encouraging, today's commencement will still proceed as planned at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Graduates should follow the timing and transportation instructions previously communicated. We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2024 this afternoon.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from Claremont COURIER and TSL May 12 reporting of the morning decampment and maintenance crew arrival
Pomona Divest from Apartheid announced 'decampment isn't the end' on Instagram and called for a 3:30 PM PDT protest at the Shrine
Approximately 50 protesters gathered outside the Shrine but did not disrupt the 6:00 PM PDT ceremony itself
Context

Background

On May 6, 2024, beginning at approximately 5:30 AM PDT, members of Pomona Divest from Apartheid (PDfA) returned to Marston Quad — the central campus green that doubles as Pomona's commencement venue — and began erecting tents and tarps. The action came one month after the April 5 arrests of 20 protesters at Alexander Hall, where Claremont PD officers in riot gear had cleared occupiers from President G. Gabrielle Starr's office. The May encampment expanded to the steps of Bridges Auditorium and at its peak included 12 tents and tarps within white-fence barricades. On May 10, President Starr emailed the community that the May 12 commencement would be relocated 45 miles east to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The encampment voluntarily 'decamped' on the morning of May 12, with maintenance staff dismantling the remaining structures. Approximately 50 protesters traveled to the Shrine for a 3:30 PM PDT 'So-Cal Shut It Down for Palestine' demonstration but did not enter the building. The 6:00 PM PDT graduation ceremony proceeded as scheduled. In Fall 2024, Pomona enacted campus-wide policy changes banning encampments and increasing security, citing this incident.
Analysis

Key Findings

Pomona's response to the May encampment was notably different from its April 5 response — no arrests, no riot police, no NYPD-style clearance, despite occupying a more visible central campus location
The commencement relocation to the Shrine Auditorium is one of the most prominent operational concessions made by any U.S. institution during 2024 spring-term encampments
Pomona's Fall 2024 'Campus Changes' policy package — banning encampments and adding security infrastructure — was a direct response to this and the April 5 Alexander Hall events
Outcome
Pomona's May 12, 2024 commencement was relocated 45 miles to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The encampment was dismantled voluntarily on the morning of graduation. No arrests during the encampment itself, though protesters disrupted the rehearsal at the Shrine. The Fall 2024 'Campus Changes' policy followed, banning all encampments on Pomona property.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
    Pomona Divest from Apartheid organizes second encampment (The Student Life, May 6, 2024)
    tsl.news
  2. Student Paper
    Pomona College moves commencement off campus (The Student Life, May 10, 2024)
    tsl.news
  3. News
    Protesters abandon Pomona College encampment (Claremont COURIER)
    claremont-courier.com
  4. News
    Pomona College encampment expands; questions linger about Sunday commencement (Claremont COURIER)
    claremont-courier.com
  5. regional media
    PDfA sets up Gaza solidarity encampment on Marston Quad (Claremont Undercurrents live updates)
    claremontundercurrents.com
  6. official statement
    Campus Changes Starting Fall 2024 (Pomona College)
    pomona.edu
  7. Student Paper
    No graduation as usual: Protesters disrupt Pomona's commencement (The Student Life)
    tsl.news
Tags
civil-disturbancegaza-protestencampmentdivestmentprivate-liberal-artsclaremont-collegescaliforniacommencement-relocatedno-arrestslac
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion