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Campus Alert Archive
Pomona

Protesters occupy the president's office; 20 arrested at Alexander Hall

AI-generated · every claim is source-linked
CAcivil unrestemergency notificationmedium confidence

On April 5, 2024 at approximately 4:00 PM PDT, pro-Palestine protesters from multiple Claremont Colleges entered Pomona's Alexander Hall through 'false pretenses' and occupied President G. Gabrielle Starr's office. Starr emailed the community at 4:26 PM PDT calling out an anti-Black racial slur used against an administrator. At 5:40 PM PDT, riot-gear officers from four police departments arrived. The first arrests came at 6:33 PM PDT. Twenty people were arrested, including students from Pomona, Scripps, and Pitzer.

Alerts
2
Response
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Pomona College
Private Liberal Arts · CA
All Pomona cases →
~1,700 studentsPomona Alert
Official alert policy
Read when and how Pomona says it will use Everbridge / Campus Public Alert System: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Some messages in this sequence are documented (their existence, timing, and channel are sourced) but their exact wording is not preserved in the public record. Those entries appear as placeholders; only confirmed text is displayed.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
I am writing to update the community regarding steps we are taking after a group of individuals refused to identify themselves to Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff, and proceeded to verbally harass staff, even using a sickening, anti-black racial slur in addressing an administrator.
Direct verbatim quote of President Starr's 4:26 PM PDT email opening sentences, widely reproduced in news coverage
Notable for explicitly naming the racial epithet directed at a Black administrator, an unusual level of specificity in a campus alert
Sent approximately 26 minutes after protesters entered Alexander Hall, indicating rapid administrative response
ALL CLEAREmail
Wording not preserved
A all clear message is documented at this point in the sequence, but its exact wording is not preserved in the public record. The public edition displays only confirmed alert text.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

I am writing to update the community regarding steps we are taking after a group of individuals refused to identify themselves to Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff, and proceeded to verbally harass staff, even using a sickening, anti-black racial slur in addressing an administrator.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree the source is present; Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff are named as the issuing authority.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Names "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", identifying the issuing authority.
    2. present: It names "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", the issuing authority.
    3. present: Writer references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff" and writes as the administration.
    4. present: The writer references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff" and "the community", identifying the issuer.
    5. present: Names "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff" and "an administrator", identifying the institution.
    6. present: It references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", the issuing campus authority.
    7. present: The sender writes as "I am writing to update the community" naming "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff".
    8. present: The writer references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff" and writes as the administration.
    9. present: References "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff" and the writer addressing "the community".
    10. present: It references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", naming the issuing authority.
    11. present: The writer references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", naming the issuing authority.
    12. present: First-person writer plus "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff" identifies the issuing authority.
    13. present: References "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", identifying the issuing authority.
    14. present: The first-person writer references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", identifying the institutional sender.
    15. present: It references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff" and the writer addressing "the community", identifying the institutional sender.
    16. present: References "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff" and the writer updating "the community".
    17. present: It references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", identifying the institutional sender.
    18. present: It references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", identifying the issuing authority.
    19. present: It references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff" and the writer updating the community, identifying the sender.
    20. present: It references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", identifying the institution as sender.
    21. present: Refers to "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", identifying the issuing institution.
    22. present: Names "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", identifying the issuing authority.
    23. present: It references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff", identifying the institutional sender.
    24. present: It references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff" and the writer addressing the community.
    25. present: It references "Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff" as the institution communicating.
  • Hazardpresent14/25

    Final assessment

    A slim majority finds the hazard present, citing harassment with a racial slur, but a strong minority counts it as no specific safety hazard.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: Describes verbal harassment and a racial slur but names no specific safety hazard.
    2. present: It describes individuals who "verbally harass staff" using a racial slur, a specific harassment incident.
    3. present: Describes individuals who "verbally harass staff" using a racial slur, a specific harassment incident.
    4. absent: It describes individuals refusing to identify and using a slur, not a specific safety hazard like a weapon or fire.
    5. present: Describes individuals who "verbally harass staff" using a racial slur, a specific harassment hazard.
    6. present: It describes harassment and use of "an anti-black racial slur", a specific bias incident.
    7. absent: It describes harassment and a slur but names no specific safety hazard or threat to recipients.
    8. absent: Describes harassment and a slur but names no specific safety hazard or threat to recipients.
    9. present: Describes verbal harassment using "an anti-black racial slur", a specific bias incident.
    10. present: It describes individuals who "verbally harass staff" using a racial slur, a specific incident.
    11. present: It describes individuals who "verbally harass staff" using a racial slur, a specific harassment threat.
    12. absent: Describes harassment and a slur but names no specific safety hazard like a weapon or fire.
    13. absent: Describes harassment and a racial slur but names no specific safety hazard like a weapon or attack.
    14. present: It describes individuals who "verbally harass staff" using an "anti-black racial slur", naming the threatening behavior.
    15. absent: It describes harassment and a slur but names no specific safety hazard like a weapon or violence.
    16. present: Describes verbal harassment with "a sickening, anti-black racial slur", a specific incident.
    17. absent: It describes harassment and a racial slur but names no specific safety hazard like a weapon or attack.
    18. present: It describes individuals who "verbally harass staff" using a racial slur, a specific harassment threat.
    19. absent: It describes harassment and a racial slur but names no specific physical threat hazard.
    20. absent: It describes individuals refusing to identify and harassing staff but names no specific safety hazard.
    21. absent: Describes harassment and a slur but names no specific safety hazard or threat.
    22. present: Describes verbal harassment using "a sickening, anti-black racial slur", a specific incident.
    23. present: It describes a hazard: a group who "verbally harass staff" using "an anti-black racial slur".
    24. present: It names individuals who "verbally harass staff" using "an anti-black racial slur", a specific harassment threat.
    25. present: It names verbal harassment using "a sickening, anti-black racial slur", a specific described offense.
  • Locationabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that location is absent; no building, street, or campus place is stated for the incident.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: No building, street, or campus location is stated in the text.
    2. absent: No building, area, or "campus" location is stated in the text.
    3. absent: No building, street, named place, or "campus" location is given for the incident.
    4. absent: No building, street, area, or "campus" location of the threat is given in the text.
    5. absent: No building, street, area, or campus location is stated in the text.
    6. absent: The text names no building, area, or campus location for the incident.
    7. absent: No building, street, area, or campus location is named in the text.
    8. absent: No building, street, area, or "campus" location of the incident is stated in the text.
    9. absent: No building, street, or area is named, only "the community".
    10. absent: No building, street, or campus location is stated in the text.
    11. absent: No building, street, area, or campus location is stated in the text.
    12. absent: No building, street, or place is named in the text.
    13. absent: No building, street, or campus location is stated in the text.
    14. absent: It gives no building, street, or area where this occurred.
    15. absent: No building, street, area, or "campus" location is specified for the incident.
    16. absent: No building, street, or campus location is named in the text.
    17. absent: No building, street, area, or "campus" location is stated.
    18. absent: No building, street, or place is named, only an unspecified address to "the community".
    19. absent: No building, street, or campus area is named in the text.
    20. absent: It gives no building, area, or campus location for the described conduct.
    21. absent: No building, street, area, or "campus" location is given for the incident.
    22. absent: The text gives no building, area, or place where this occurred.
    23. absent: No building, street, or campus location is named in the text.
    24. absent: No building, area, or campus location is stated in the text.
    25. absent: No building, street, area, or campus location is named in the text.
  • Guidanceabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    Unanimous that guidance is absent; the message only describes administrative steps and gives recipients no protective action.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: No protective action instruction is given to recipients.
    2. absent: It tells recipients no protective action; it only describes administrative steps.
    3. absent: No protective action is given to recipients; it only updates on steps being taken.
    4. absent: The message gives no protective action instruction to recipients.
    5. absent: No protective action is directed to recipients; it only describes administrative steps being taken.
    6. absent: The text describes steps taken but gives recipients no protective action instruction.
    7. absent: It gives recipients no protective action, only describes steps the administration is taking.
    8. absent: The message gives recipients no protective action, only updates on steps being taken.
    9. absent: No protective action is instructed to recipients.
    10. absent: It tells recipients no protective action, only narrates steps being taken.
    11. absent: No protective action is directed to recipients; it only describes administrative steps.
    12. absent: No protective action is instructed to recipients.
    13. absent: No protective action is directed to recipients; it only describes administrative steps.
    14. absent: It only describes steps the administration is taking, giving recipients no protective action.
    15. absent: It gives recipients no protective action, only describes administrative steps being taken.
    16. absent: No protective action is instructed to recipients.
    17. absent: No protective action is directed to recipients.
    18. absent: It only describes steps the administration is taking, giving recipients no protective action.
    19. absent: It tells the community about steps being taken but gives recipients no protective action.
    20. absent: It gives no protective action instruction to recipients.
    21. absent: The writer only describes steps being taken; no protective action is asked of recipients.
    22. absent: No protective action is given to recipients; it only describes steps the administration is taking.
    23. absent: It gives no protective action instruction to recipients, only narrates steps being taken.
    24. absent: No protective action is directed at recipients.
    25. absent: It tells recipients no protective action, only updates on administrative steps.
  • Timeabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree time is absent; no clock time, date, or recency cue appears.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    2. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word appears.
    3. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" or "today" appears.
    4. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue is present in the text.
    5. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" or "today" appears.
    6. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" or "today" appears.
    7. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue is present in the text.
    8. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" or "today" appears.
    9. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    10. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    11. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    12. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears.
    13. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    14. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    15. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" or "today" appears.
    16. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    17. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    18. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    19. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" or "immediately" appears.
    20. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    21. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue is present in the text.
    22. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    23. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    24. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue appears in the text.
    25. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue is present.
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    Absent, unanimous. Describes harassment and a racial slur as a conduct matter but conveys no physical danger or potential consequence to people or property.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: Describes verbal harassment and a racial slur but conveys no physical danger or harm severity.
    2. absent: It describes harassment and a racial slur directed at staff but conveys no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    3. absent: It describes harassment and a racial slur which are offensive but states no physical danger or harm to people or property.
    4. absent: It describes individuals harassing staff and using a slur but states no physical harm, danger, or severe consequence.
    5. absent: Describes harassment and a racial slur but states no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    6. absent: Describes harassment and a racial slur but states no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    7. absent: Describes harassment and a racial slur directed at staff but conveys no physical harm or threat to safety.
    8. absent: It describes verbal harassment and a racial slur but states no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    9. absent: Describes harassment and a racial slur as misconduct but conveys no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    10. absent: It describes harassment and a racial slur directed at staff but states no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    11. absent: Describes harassment and a racial slur but states no physical danger or consequence to people or property.
    12. absent: It describes harassment and a racial slur as a conduct concern but conveys no physical danger or harm to people or property.
    13. absent: Describes harassment and a racial slur but conveys no physical harm or hazard severity to people or property.
    14. absent: It describes harassment and a racial slur as conduct but states no physical danger or consequence to people or property.
    15. absent: The text describes harassment and use of a racial slur but conveys no physical danger or stated harm to people or property.
    16. absent: Describes harassment and use of a racial slur which is offensive but conveys no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    17. absent: It describes individuals harassing staff and using a racial slur but states no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    18. absent: Describes harassment and a racial slur as objectionable conduct but conveys no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    19. absent: Describes verbal harassment and a racial slur as misconduct but states no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    20. absent: Describes harassment and a racial slur as misconduct but states no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    21. absent: Describes harassment and a racial slur as misconduct but conveys no physical danger or harm to people or property.
    22. absent: Describes harassment and a racial slur as misconduct but states no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    23. absent: It describes individuals harassing staff with a racial slur but states no physical harm or stated danger to people or property.
    24. absent: Describes harassment and a racial slur as misconduct but states no physical harm or danger to people or property.
    25. absent: It describes harassment and a racial slur but states no physical harm or danger to people or property.

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

On April 5, 2024 (a Friday afternoon during a spring-term that had seen over 200 demonstrators blocking College Avenue earlier in the day) a group of pro-Palestine protesters from Pomona, Scripps, and Pitzer entered Pomona's Alexander Hall around 4:00 PM PDT. Campus Safety later determined the group had provided false information to gain access to the locked building. Approximately 30-40 protesters occupied President G. Gabrielle Starr's office while another 100-150 demonstrators gathered outside. At 4:26 PM PDT, Starr emailed the community the now-widely-quoted message describing a 'sickening, anti-black racial slur' used against an administrator. At 5:40 PM PDT, approximately 24 officers in riot gear from the Claremont, Pomona, Azusa, and Covina police departments arrived. The first arrests came at 6:33 PM PDT, with arrestees led from the building in zip ties. Twenty people were arrested in total — 19 for misdemeanor trespassing and one for obstructing an officer. All arrested Pomona students were issued interim suspensions without a judicial hearing. Pitzer's Executive Committee of the Faculty and faculty from across the Claremont Colleges issued statements condemning the arrests and suspensions. The event marked the first 2024 spring-term mass-arrest at a small liberal arts college and set the stage for the May 6 Marston Quad encampment and the subsequent October 7 Carnegie Hall takeover.
Analysis

Key Findings

First documented 2024 spring-term mass-arrest event at a small liberal arts college, distinct from the much larger Columbia, USC, and UCLA arrests that came later
President Starr's 4:26 PM PDT email is one of the rare 2024 campus messages to explicitly name a racial epithet, breaking with the typical sanitized language of administrative communications
The 25-minute response window from sit-in start to first community alert, and ~2.5 hours from alert to first arrest, is fast compared to Ivy/R1 timelines that often spanned days
Outcome
Twenty people were arrested — 19 for misdemeanor trespassing and one (Sara Orr, 21) for obstructing/delaying an officer. Of those arrested: 7 Pomona students, 8 Scripps students, 5 Pitzer students. All arrested Pomona students were issued interim suspensions without a judicial hearing. The arrests sparked condemnation from Pitzer's faculty and faculty at other 5C institutions. This was the first 2024 spring-term mass-arrest event at a small liberal arts college.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
  2. regional media
  3. News
  4. national media
  5. national media
  6. Student Paper
  7. regional media
  8. Student Paper
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Pomona College: Protesters occupy the president's office; 20 arrested at Alexander Hall." Incident of April 5, 2024. Added May 2026; last updated July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/pomona-college-alexander-hall-arrests-2024-04-05/

Download case JSON

Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
civil-disturbancebuilding-occupationmass-arrestgaza-protestdivestmentriot-policeprivate-liberal-artsclaremont-collegescaliforniainterim-suspension
Added May 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion