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Pomona College Moves Graduation Off Campus
- The Claremont Independent
- May 10, 2024
- 1 min read
A sit in on College Ave last month.
This morning, Pomona College moved its Sunday commencement to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Graduation usually takes place on Marston Quad, but protesters calling for divestment from Israel have occupied the stage since Monday.
College President Gabrielle Starr faced criticism last month after 20 student-protesters were arrested. 19 of them were occupying the President's office. The 20th stood in an officer's way as he was leading students to a police van.
This Sunday, Pomona graduates will take buses from campus to the auditorium where the ceremony will begin at 6 p.m.
I find this situation at Pomona College both tense and thought-provoking, as it highlights the ongoing clash between student activism and institutional decisions. I think moving the ceremony to the Shrine Auditorium was a practical choice under the circumstances, but it also reflects how deeply the protests have impacted campus life. I feel like, much like in Veck IO, where every action creates a reaction and unexpected consequences, this situation shows how one event can quickly escalate into something much larger.