April 13, 2020 Update

Important message from Dean Lively

Dear Undergraduate Students,

I am writing to all of you, though my concern is with a relative few. I know that most of you are choosing to behave responsibly during this crisis, and to act as leaders and role models in your families and communities. Thank you.

Unfortunately, I have also learned over this past month that some are not. To avoid any confusion about every Dartmouth student's responsibilities to the College, I want to be absolutely clear about the expectations going forward.

First: No matter where you are, you must comply with the College's Standards of Conduct (see https://student-affairs.dartmouth.edu/policy/standards-conduct). All standards continue to apply, and you should review them in full. This spring term, you should note in particular the following expectations:

*You must not engage in behavior which causes or threatens harm to another person or would reasonably be expected to cause physical harm to another person. (See Standard I)

*You must not engage in behavior that threatens the safety, security or functioning of the College, the safety and security of its members, or the safety and security of others. You may not engage in conduct which interferes with the College's responsibility to protect the health and safety of its members or visitors, to protect College property or the property of others, or to carry out its functions. (See Standard II)

*You must abide by the Academic Honor Principle. (See Standard V)

*You must comply with local, state and federal law. (See Standard VI)

*You must comply with College policies, rules and regulations, including operating regulations (written or oral) of offices and departments of the College. (See Standard VII)

*You may not intentionally fail to comply with directives of law enforcement officials or College authorities acting in the performance of their duties. You may not knowingly provide false information or make misrepresentations to any College officer or member of the community acting on behalf of the College. (See Standard IX)

This should be familiar to all of you.

These words have been in place in the Student Handbook since you arrived at Dartmouth; and they exist to articulate, preserve and enforce the shared values of this community. At matriculation, each of you pledged to uphold yourselves with integrity, and you committed to conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of your education. We expect no less of you now, especially now. Complying with social distancing and stay-at-home directives from local, state, and federal public health officials is essential in "flattening the curve" and managing the spread of Covid-19.

Sadly, we have heard a number of recent concerns about student behavior - from your fellow students, from parents, from faculty and staff, and from Town officials and community members.

Let me give you just a few examples.

Over the last two weeks, despite the public health threat, some of you gathered for unauthorized social events in privately owned fraternity facilities. Some of you have been seen congregating in groups in town and on College property, in full view of vulnerable community members. Some of you have berated and yelled at College hourly employees who are simply trying to do their jobs. Some of you have misrepresented your locations during the Banner check-in process, to "fly under the radar". Some of you have entered residence halls and other facilities without authorization. At the end of last week, a senior officer at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center reported to Hanover town leaders and to College officials that more than 200 of you are planning to return to Hanover this spring.

Perhaps most compellingly, a local physician who is on the front lines of the local crisis - an alumnus of both the College and Geisel, who is a self-described strong supporter of Greek life - wrote to us about a disturbing encounter with a group of undergraduates who were defiant and dissembling. He said: "I love Dartmouth - but I have never been so disappointed in being associated with the College. As you know, people are dying, and to see these kids not giving a crap about their fellow humans - [they were] selfish, and really demonstrating the worst type of entitled behavior. I am disgusted and so sad..."

Because of these actions, students, faculty, staff and community members rightly fear for the health and safety of the community. Accordingly, with the support of President Phil Hanlon, Provost Joe Helble, and Executive Vice President Rick Mills, I want to impress upon you all that violations of the Standards of Conduct, now, and until further notice, will subject individuals and organizations to serious disciplinary action, up to and including immediate temporary suspension, separation, and de-recognition.

As individuals, you are accountable for your choices and their consequences. And, as members of student organizations, your behavior may have consequences for your organization. In the context of the pandemic and public health crisis, you should expect that both individual and organizational disciplinary consequences will be swift and severe as circumstances warrant.

You are "the most promising students" to which our institutional mission refers. Most of you are acting as such, and most of you recognize that your membership in our community is a privilege - NOT a right. We are committed to educating and preparing you for a lifetime of learning and responsible leadership, but only to the degree that you continue to earn that privilege by putting the needs of the community before your own. Even in light of unprecedented disappointments, we must all do our part to embody what it truly means to be a member of the Dartmouth community.

Dean Lively