Dear members of the Dartmouth Community,
Late last night, a Jewish student found a swastika drawn on a laminated sign hanging outside of their dorm room. I am shocked and sickened to be writing to you again about targeted harassment occurring where our students live.
Let me be absolutely clear: Antisemitism has no place at Dartmouth. These acts of harassment and intimidation are in direct opposition to our policies and values. They are cowardly and unacceptable. We are fully supporting the criminal investigation by Hanover Police and exploring every option to find those who committed these heinous acts and hold them accountable.
This weekend—in the midst of the Jewish High Holidays and as we welcome families to our campus—should be a joyful occasion. Instead, we are again confronting hate in our community. Dartmouth Safety and Security will be increasing patrols in that area and in residence halls across campus. We are supporting the students who reported the incident and their community, and we encourage anyone else who is in need of assistance to reach out. I have asked Senior Vice President for Community and Campus Life Jennifer Rosales to coordinate our campus response and community support moving forward.
As I said at events on campus this morning, I am so proud to be part of this community and it is the responsibility of all of us to stand up to bigotry—in every shape and form. These awful incidents will not define us. We can, must, and will be defined by how we respond and how we support one another as a community. We must come together to foster a campus where every person feels safe, respected, and valued.
Sincerely,
Sian Leah Beilock
President