Student protesters inside Carnegie Hall.
On November 1st, Pomona College’s Judicial Council (JBoard) issued sanctions against Claremont Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) after finding the organization guilty of one of six alleged violations of Pomona’s Student Code of Conduct. The charges stemmed from SJP’s participation in the October 7th occupation of Carnegie Hall.
The lone charge sustained by JBoard pertained to “irresponsible or negligent conduct,” defined as behavior that “results in theft, damage, physical harm or threat to a member of the Pomona College community’s property or safety.” SJP, however, was cleared of five other charges, including harassment, unauthorized access to college property, and damage to college property.
The board imposed seven sanctions, most notably the suspension of the organization’s Instagram account until March 31st, 2025. The club will also be required to issue a “community apology” and participate in a series of mandatory meetings with their faculty advisor.
SJP has not publicly commented on the ruling, but did release a statement on the day of their hearing framing the disciplinary process as an attempt to stifle dissent. “By criminalizing the oldest school-affiliated group centered on Palestinian liberation, admin makes it clearer than ever that their priority is continuing to support israeli [sic] apartheid,” they wrote.
JBoard also brought charges against Claremont Undercurrents, a student newspaper aligned with progressive campus activist groups. According to a statement on Undercurrents’ social media, JBoard found them not responsible for failing to comply with Pomona administrators’ requests during the protest. However, prior to their November 4th hearing, Undercurrents had accepted responsibility for unauthorized access to Carnegie Hall.
Representatives from Undercurrents will be required to meet with Pomona Dean of Campus Life Josh Eisenberg to “clarify coverage guidelines,” and will have to attend “training session(s) on… following College policy as a news media organization.”
“We remain outraged by the administration’s attempt to suppress coverage of Palestine solidarity organizing through their punitive charges against Undercurrents,” they wrote on social media. “Our case is part of a wave of harsh repression against students speaking and acting in solidarity with Palestine across the country, and exemplifies the well-documented Palestine Exception to free speech and protest.”
Pomona Divest from Apartheid (PDfA), another student group involved in the Oct. 7th protests, evaded sanctions because they are not a registered student organization. A Pomona College spokesperson told The Student Life that all disciplinary matters related to registered student organizations had been addressed by JBoard.