As the leading candidates continue to pass through Hanover in search of support in the upcoming primary, one presidential hopeful recently received a colder welcome.
Early Sunday evening, a Safety and Security officer confronted Robert Haines of Manchester, N.H., between Thayer Dining Hall and Robinson Hall and asked him to leave Dartmouth College property. Haines, on his way home from a trip to a Republican conference in Fairlee, Vt., arrived on campus just over two days ago to campaign for his run for the U.S. presidency.
Hanover Police Officers Steve Reed and Rick Paulsen were on site at the request of the College to assist Safety and Security in safely removing Haines.
The officers said Haines' removal from campus was a culmination of a weekend in which the College submitted a handful of complaints to Hanover Police that Haines was illegally trespassing on the Dartmouth campus.
The officers said that Haines had been spotted around campus at several sporting events throughout the weekend, including the football game where he tried to receive access to the public announcement system in order to announce his campaign for the presidency.
Haines subsequently left the campus property without conflict and said that he would continue his campaign on theHanover Inn corner at the intersection of Wheelock Street and Main Street -- a site at which he claimed that an American flag was stolen from him by a man in a brown jacket on Sunday morning.
Paulsen said that Safety and Security removed Haines' from campus after he had disregarded several warnings to leave campus sites over the past few days.
"He was formally served a letter saying that he is not wanted at the College," Paulsen.
Fan Zhong '06 said that she encountered Haines on Saturday while boarding the Dartmouth Asian Organization's bus to Boston. She descibed Haines as "a scary looking man with a preacher's cross and a cowboy hat."
"He asked us how many people on the bus were American citizens, and then he told us to vote him for President of the United States," Zhong said.
According to Zhong, Haines "was really obnoxious." Zhong said that she was particularly agitated by the fact that he blocked the bus entrance while addressing the students aboard the bus.
Aaron Schlosser '07 said that he also saw Haines Sunday morning in the Courtyard Cafe at the Hopkins Center.
"The guy seemed real angry and volatile," Schlosser said. "He was yelling about how someone stole his American flag."
Schlosser indicated that he was glad that Dartmouth decided to remove Haines from campus.
"S&S should make sure to protect the students from people that are ranting and raving and interrupting people's lives," Schlosser said.
According to Haines, his presence on campus is not to intimidate but to gain support to both challenge President Bush for the Republican nomination and to then defeat a Democratic party opponent.
Haines said that although he is running for the Republican nomination, his platform actually transcends "all party and gender lines."
Haines said that he chose Dartmouth as a campaign sight because of its proximity to the New Hampshire presidential primaries. "This is the Ivy League college of the first primary state," Haines said.
Haines said that he will remain near campus for the immediate future because the presidential candidate that receives the support of the Dartmouth student body is at an advantage in both the primaries and the general election.
"Big D[artmouth] is going to the White House with me," Haines said.
Although many students have expressed that they consider Haines a joke candidate, Haines expressed bold predictions for campaign success in Hanover.
"We're going to raise more money than Bush and Dean," Haines said.
Officers with Safety and Security declined to comment.
