History of Feminism

Dear Members of the Dartmouth Community,

The recent Bored at Baker posting targeting a member of our community sharply illustrates the damage that disrespectful, irresponsible, and anonymous comments in online forums can have for the person targeted and for our community as a whole. While we defend the right to freedom of expression and vigorous debate on our campus, anonymous online or other personal, harassing and threatening language is not protected or defensible and has no place in any community-let alone the Dartmouth family we all hold so dear.

Once we were notified that the police had completed their investigation, we
acted swiftly to identify the individual that (anonymously) authored the post. We have identified the individual and are taking appropriate actions under the College disciplinary system. We want to assure you that we are doing all that we can to support those impacted by this and any other posting. If you or someone close to you needs support or a space to talk, I encourage you to reach out to the many resources available including Counseling, the Undergraduate Deans Office, the SAAP coordinators, OPAL, and Safety & Security.

At his Inauguration, President Hanlon challenged us to consider, with every action we take on this campus, whether we are strengthening our community or undermining it. Anonymous post targeting individuals, public harassment, threatening behavior and physical and sexual violence corrode the heart of our community and are unacceptable. At its heart, this is a community that cares for one another. Let's rise to President Hanlon's challenge and reflect our highest values in all that we do.

Sincerely,

Charlotte Johnson
Dean of the College