On Monday, Oct. 28, 5C students donned black clothing in a silent “Black Out” protest in solidarity with the students who were suspended for their alleged participation in the Oct. 7 occupation of Carnegie Hall. An Associated Students of Pomona College (ASPC) Senate statement on the suspensions released several days earlier called for participation in the protest.
“These are your peers facing punishment,” the statement reads. “Everyone on campus is encouraged to wear black throughout the day. This will serve as a safe and silent protest while ASPC works on further actions.”
The ASPC Senate statement, sent to students on Oct. 25, was signed by 12 senators and Devlin Orlin, ASPC president. In addition to calling for the “Black Out” protest, the statement condemned the actions of President G. Gabrielle Starr, describing her decision to suspend students as “punitive, excessive, and dangerous for the future of free expression at Pomona.”
“The decision made by President Starr is not about justice; it’s about control,” the Senate wrote. “We’re watching students’ lives fall apart as they’re cut off from the second life they’ve built at school. This decision is a betrayal of the values Pomona claims to uphold.”
In the statement, the Senate also outlined a host of demands directed at Starr, the Board of Trustees and the Dean of Students. Among these demands were the overturning of both permanent and interim suspensions, allowance for case investigations and Judicial Council hearings for all accused students, and the implementation of sanctions proportional to students’ alleged violations of student conduct.
“Initially our goal was to better understand the process that the accused students were going through by interviewing the deans and other relevant individuals, but that eventually morphed into writing a statement that sought to mobilize the community,” senator and vice president of academic affairs Claudio Castillo PO ‘26 said.
“We know this situation is scary,” the statement reads. “We know it feels overwhelming. The administration may think they have the upper hand, but they’ve mistaken our fear for weakness. Use that fear to fuel your drive for change.”
Two days later, on Oct. 27, Bethany Slater, director of Claremont Hillel — the 7C Jewish community affinity group — sent an email to Hillel’s mailing list addressing the “Black out” and ASPC’s statement. The email also offered Claremont Hillel’s headquarters as an “open space” for any community members feeling uncomfortable about the silent protest.
“Based on ASPC’s recent communications, I am hearing that there is real concern that this action will not support a healthy campus culture,” Slater wrote. “Many are worried it will exacerbate the judgmental culture of intimidation that is currently so powerfully at work on our campuses.”
In a later email statement to TSL, Slater further clarified her position.
“Claremont Hillel is dedicated to fostering a space for nuanced opinions on complicated topics, a commitment we believe is essential to building a truly inclusive campus,” Slater said. “While protest is a powerful tool, it can also be polarizing, often creating division rather than fostering inclusivity.”
Slater also suggested that ASPC gather anonymous feedback from community members and present the findings to administrators, rather than call for a silent protest. She added that ASPC could hold meetings with a wide range of students affected by recent protests to gain a better understanding of diverse perspectives.
“By fostering a campus culture that values disagreement and debate, ASPC could help build a more resilient, respectful community,” Slater said.
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