Dear Students, Faculty and Staff, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are writing to provide an update to the HMC community about Wednesday\u2019s Career Fair, which was sponsored by the Office of Career Services (OCS) and open to all students at The Claremont Colleges. We are very sad to report that four HMC staff members were physically harmed during protest activity that turned unpeaceful. Our intention here is to share information so that we are able to better work, learn and live together as we move forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday, Sept. 23, we learned that HMCDissenters\/Mudders Against Murder had issued a call via social media<\/a> for people to gather for a \u201crally to shut down War Profiteers on HMC Campus\u201d outside the Career Fair. Their message was shared by other social media accounts both within and outside The Claremont Colleges community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, and to ensure that all students could access the employers and graduate school representatives at the Career Fair uninterrupted, the College made logistical arrangements to better secure the Linde Activities Center (LAC) and requested additional fencing and safety officers to provide support on site as a precautionary measure. The purpose was not to prevent the protest, but rather to keep it from disrupting the activity inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students attending the Career Fair were asked to swipe in at registration tables to access the event and were told they would not be allowed to bring bags inside. They were encouraged to bring resumes to leave with employers and graduate school representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wednesday morning, just before the event began at 11 a.m., protesters arrived outside the LAC. Our understanding is that the protest began peacefully, with approximately 40 protesters chanting and holding signs on the grassy area across from the entrance to the LAC for about 45 minutes. Although the protesters were not readily identifiable with their heads and faces fully covered, none was asked for identification or told to leave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At about 11:45 a.m., a group of protesters approached and pushed the registration table, pushing the table into the abdomens of the Division of Student Affairs staff members who were helping students check in to the event. Another DSA staff member was briefly pinned by one of the tables due to the actions of the protesters and sustained bruises. Protesters jumped over fencing and pushed a campus safety officer aside, reaching the doors to the LAC. They pushed aside and elbowed another member of the DSA staff trying to gain entry to the LAC. They then banged on the doors and glass windows attempting to gain access. At some point, protesters also jumped on top of the registration tables and vandalized HMC-owned computers and<\/a> splashed paint on the front of the LAC and the patio using paint or paint markers. We are working with the HMC staff members to provide them with appropriate support following yesterday\u2019s experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n