CLAREMONT >> Claremont McKenna College has suspended five students for attempting to shut down a conservative author’s on-campus appearance.

Other students also were disciplined.

The college announced the disciplinary actions Monday against the students, who tried to stop Heather Mac Donald, author of “The War on Cops,” from speaking. Three are being suspended for one year, two received one-semester suspensions and two were put on conduct probation.

“The blockade breached institutional values of freedom of expression and assembly. Furthermore, this action violated policies of both the College and The Claremont Colleges that prohibit material disruption of college programs and created unsafe conditions in disregard of state law,” campus administrators said in a statement released July 17.

On April 6, students blocked the entrance of the Athenaeum, where Mac Donald was set to speak. The group of more than 150, which reportedly included students from the five Claremont Colleges, shouted “Shut it down,” and “Black lives, they matter here,” according to a video of the incident.

Claremont McKenna College investigated by launching a “conduct process,” which allows students multiple opportunities to meet with an investigator as well as the conduct administrator throughout the incident review.

Attorney Nana Gyamfi, who is advising some of the students, said Wednesday that two of the students who received one-year suspensions graduated in May. The college issued degrees and now it’s revoking their degrees for a year, she said.

“That is a big deal,” Gyamfi said. “There is no one that this is not a big deal for them. This is not Ivanka Trump. You have a lot of first-generation students.”

Gyamfi, a Los Angeles-based attorney with Justice Warriors 4 Black Lives, said the college’s policies didn’t allow her to attend the hearings. The students wish to remain anonymous because some of them have received death threats. The attorney said they’re still deciding if they want to pursue any legal options.

In a statement Friday, the college said it could not comment on sanctions for graduating seniors, but for students who already have graduated, the formal date of their degrees will be “suspended until such time as the student served the suspension period.”

Gyamfi said she’s uncertain how this will impact the students and their efforts to land full-time jobs, or that fact that in six months they could face financial hardships trying to make payments on student loans.

Those suspended include students of color, women and LGBTQ. Initially, three graduating seniors were told they would not be able to walk in graduation ceremonies, but the college agreed to award them conditional degrees, she said.

Gyamfi called the sanctions “cruel and unusual punishment. They know what impact is and they don’t care.”

Joann Young, a spokeswoman for Claremont McKenna, said the college cannot discuss the details of the conduct process or individual cases but instead referred to a statement released Monday.

In their investigation, Claremont McKenna administrators found that students blocked the entrance and took apart barrier fencing set up to provide an area to protest but still allow the public to attend the speech.

In doing so, students disregarded campus safety officers who were trying to allow guests into the event, the college’s statement said.

The college used video and photographic evidence to identify 12 Claremont McKenna students as potential participants. But further investigation narrowed it down to 10 students. Three of those were found not responsible for any violations.

Administrators determined that the remaining seven students had violated college policy.

Students were told of the findings and informed they could file an appeal by July 11 with the sanctions officer. Some students chose to appeal and others didn’t, Gyamfi said.

As of July 17, Gyamfi said at least one student’s appeal had been denied.

Throughout the ordeal, the college has failed to look at the situation from the perspective of the students, who come from marginalized communities, Gyamfi said.

“When you know what it’s like for someone’s words to have the capacity to put your life in danger, then you have a different perspective,” she said.

She contends the college is using the sanctions to stifle students’ voices and use them as an example to other students who plan to protest.

Claremont McKenna administrators insist their disciplinary process was fair, saying students were given ample opportunities to ask questions and were able to ask if they wanted to pursue the investigation further or raise any objections. Claremont McKenna also noted that its independent panel — which consisted of a faculty member, staff and a student — used evidence and some witness testimony to make their findings.

“The College followed a full, fair and impartial student conduct process before the determination of findings, sanctions and the resolution of appeals. Efforts to politicize and interfere with this process had no influence on timing or decisions,” the statement read.

Harsher sanctions were issued to those who played a larger role in the protest, as well as “the acknowledgment and acceptance of responsibility.”

In addition, Claremont McKenna administrators are temporarily suspending on-campus privileges for four non-CMC students and has shared “evidence of policy violations by students of the other Claremont Colleges to their respective deans of students,” the college said.

Claremont McKenna College acknowledged it learned lessons from the April 6 incident but it does not plan on changing the types of speakers who are invited to the Athenaeum in the future.

“Our faculty must help us understand how to mitigate the forces that divide our society. Our students must master the skills of respectful dialogue across all barriers,” the statement said. “Our community must protect the right to learn from others, especially those with whom we strongly disagree. And Claremont McKenna College must take every step necessary to uphold these vital commitments.”