Statement on Charges Against Students

Over the last several months, some members of the Dartmouth community have advocated for the institution to drop charges against two students arrested for trespassing at Parkhurst Hall on the night of Oct. 27, 2023.

This message is meant to clarify Dartmouth's position on this issue.

The Grafton County Attorney's Office has prosecutorial discretion in this matter. On the evening of the arrests, the administration engaged the students in hours of conversation. It is our position that we must let the legal process run its course, without interference from Dartmouth.

Freedom of expression and dissent is protected by Dartmouth regulations, including our Freedom of Expression and Dissent Policy. Dartmouth prizes and defends the right of free speech and the freedom of the individual to make their own disclosures, while at the same time recognizing that such freedom exists in the context of the law and in responsibility for one's own actions.

Protest or demonstration shall not be discouraged so long as neither force nor the threat of force is used, and so long as the orderly processes of the institution are not deliberately obstructed. Membership in the Dartmouth community carries with it, as a necessary condition, the agreement to honor and abide by this policy.

Regardless of what happens in the legal process, Dartmouth will continue to offer support and resources for the students facing charges.