13 Big Things Happening at Pomona This Semester

A band plays live music on Marston Quad

From winter break we transition into a new spring semester at 芭乐视频 in just a few days. This semester, the College breaks in the new decade with a host of big events on campus from late January to early May. Below is a sampling of what鈥檚 happening at Pomona this semester:

  1. Post/Truth. This spring, the Humanities Studio at 芭乐视频 continues exploring the various facts of our current post/truth (un) reality through a series of speakers, seminars and other campus programming. The post/truth series includes novelist Nalo Hopkinson on January 30, 鈥淔ake News鈥 Colloquium from February 14-15, cultural critic Tavia Nyong鈥檕 on March 5, journalist Chuck Klosterman on April 1 and cultural critic Lewis Hyde on April 16.   

  2. Concerts at Pomona. The Music Department Spring 2020 schedule will once again offer a wide range of musical performances, all free and open to the public. Concerts include the Ussachevsky Memorial Festival of Electro Acoustic Music from January 31 to February 1, Nevenka in Concert on March 1, the Afro-Cuban Music Ensemble on April 27 and Giri Kusuma on May 4, among dozens more. More concert information can be found on the Music Department鈥檚 website

  3. International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) West Quarterfinal. The collegiate competition will include up to 10 college a cappella groups from California where first and second place will move on to the western semifinal. The event is organized by Varsity Vocals, the largest international a cappella tournament exclusive to universities around the world. The 2020 ICCA West Quarterfinal will take place at 7 p.m. on February 1 at Bridges Auditorium (450 N. College Way). Ticket prices are listed online.

  4. A Conversation with Danny Russel. President Barack Obama鈥檚 top advisor on Asia, Danny Russel, will visit Pomona鈥檚 campus for a lunch conversation moderated by students Allie Pitchon 鈥20 and Jacinta Chen 鈥21. Russel, currently the vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, will address topics such as U.S.-China relations, the Japan-South Korea dispute and the Trump administration鈥檚 approach to Asia. The noon conversation is on February 4 in the Frank Blue Room (260 E. Bonita Avenue).

  5. Family Weekend. Every year, we invite families and friends of 芭乐视频 students for a special campus visit in February where students get to share their 芭乐视频 experience. A special schedule provides families with a number of activities, including classroom visits, lectures and talks and special events like the Payton Distinguished Lectureship. Family Weekend officially begins February 14 and ends February 16.

  6. A Conversation with Eric Holder. The third annual Payton Distinguished Lectureship will feature remarks from former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, followed by an in-depth conversation on voting rights and inequality in the U.S. moderated by Associate Professor of Politics Amanda Hollis-Brusky. The event is at 6:30 p.m., February 15 at Bridges Auditorium (450 N. College Way). Tickets are free but required.

  7. Science and a Healthy Planet. The 芭乐视频 Chemistry Department welcomes chemist Geraldine (Geri) Richmond to campus. The theme of this year鈥檚 Robbins Lecture Series is 鈥淭he Importance of Science in the Future of a Healthy Planet.鈥 Richmond will give four lectures about this topic. The series is free and open to the public and will run from February 24-27 at Seaver North Auditorium (645 N. College Avenue).

  8. Macbeth. Something wicked this way comes鈥 The 芭乐视频 Theatre Department brings William Shakespeare鈥檚 400-year-old play, The Tragedy of Macbeth to life. The play will run from March 5-8 at Seaver Theatre (300 E. Bonita Avenue). Tickets are $6 for students, staff, faculty and seniors; $11 for general admission.

  9. An Evening with Angela Davis. The 芭乐视频 History Department welcomes Angela Davis, an internationally known scholar and an icon in the movement to combat oppression in the U.S. and abroad, as the 2020 Ena H. Thompson Distinguished Lecturer. During her week-long visit to campus, Davis will give two public talks: 鈥淎n Evening with Angela Davis鈥 at 7 p.m. on April 7 at Seaver Theatre (300 E. Bonita Avenue) and 鈥淩adical Agendas and Possible Futures鈥 at 7 p.m. on April 9 at Bridges Auditorium (450 N. College Way). Both events are open to the public, but priority will be given to current students of The Claremont Colleges.

  10. The Origins of Life. Join the 芭乐视频 Geology Department for their annual Woodford-Eckis Lectureship. This year鈥檚 distinguished speaker is Robert M. Hazen, senior staff scientist at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory. 鈥婬azen will deliver two talks: 鈥淐hance, Necessity and the Origins of Life鈥 at 8:15 p.m. on February 28 and 鈥淭he Story of Earth: How Life and Rocks Have Co-Evolved鈥 at 11 a.m. on February 29. Both talks will take place at Rose Hills Theatre in the Smith Campus Center; they are free and open to the public.

  11. Alumni Weekend. One of Pomona鈥檚 most honored and fun traditions, Alumni Weekend brings hundreds of alumni back to campus every year to reconnect with classmates and faculty, visit favorite campus hangouts, attend special programs and events, and of course, make new Pomona memories. This year, Alumni Weekend is from April 30 to May 3.

  12. Shen Yun. The dance troupe Shen Yun comes to Bridges Auditorium with classical Chinese dance, interactive backdrops and all-original orchestral compositions. The show runs May 8 to May 10 at Bridges Auditorium (450 N. College Way). Ticket prices start at $80.

  13. Commencement Weekend. This is it for our seniors! The Class of 2020 is currently wrapping up their last semester before they have to don their caps and gowns and walk across the stage to receive their diploma. The 2020 Commencement Weekend begins on May 15, which includes the Phi Beta Kappa Induction. It continues on May 16 with Class Day and culminates with the Commencement Ceremony on May 17. No tickets are required for the ceremony.