The group, which initially consisted mostly of Students Stand with Staff members, began its occupation last Thursday in response to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's announcement of Occupy Wall Street's impending eviction, according to Karenina Rojas '13.
"We are in solidarity with the national Occupy movements," she said. "Also, it's important as a symbol, that even out here in the middle of nowhere, there are people who care enough to do this."
The group has yet to define a clear agenda or message, partially because it remains in the early stages of development, Gusdorf said.
"Everyone has their own view of the movement," he said. "We're identifying a problem that I don't think is widely and sufficiently understood."
Matt Cloyd '11 said the group deliberately lacks policy goals. While dissatisfaction with unemployment and the lack of health care and educational opportunities has fueled the movement, social ills alone are not the target of the national movement, he said. Rather, the group protests "economic inequalities" because they prohibit full participation in the democratic process, Gusdorf said.
"This is about raising a democratic consciousness," he said.
While the group is not protesting any policy established by the College, the occupiers hope to fuel discussion surrounding Dartmouth's ties to Wall Street and the way in which corporations exert unfair influence over the democratic process, Gusdorf said.
"We're not against corporations, we're against the abuse of corporate power," he said. "I would define that as when there's an accumulation of wealth in the hands of a small minority that determines the course of political events."
Occupy Dartmouth's formal mission also remains unclear due to an intentional lack of any internal hierarchy, Cloyd said. The group's general assembly, which is open to the public, will meet every Sunday at 5 p.m. All issues the group faces are put to a vote, and no member has precedence over any other.
The group also aims to facilitate dialogue about the meaning of democracy and encourage cooperation among the different Occupy movements across the country, Aimee Le '12 said.
"There is no spokesperson," Le said. "Some of us have been here since the first night, but those voices aren't heard over anyone else's. We're trying to exemplify democracy."
Occupy Dartmouth is not recognized by the Council on Student Organizations or the College, but general responses to the protest have been positive so far, according to Cloyd. Pedestrians often stop to encourage or engage the occupiers in discussion while others drop off donuts, bagels and other snacks, Rojas said.
Alhough some of the group's critics are vocal one pedestrian shouted "I love privilege" as he passed such opponents rarely confront the protesters in a "serious" manner, Cloyd said.
"One guy did come up to us with critiques, and we ended up having a really good conversation," Cloyd said.
The group plans to continue its round-the-clock occupation indefinitely, according to Rojas. Group members currently sign up for shifts so that the occupation can continue without interruption and the members have a chance to sleep, Gusdorf said.
Due to safety concerns, Director of Safety and Security and College Proctor Harry Kinne requested that one protester stay awake at all times to address any problems that might arise, Kinne said in an interview with The Dartmouth.
Relations with Safety and Security and the Hanover Police have been amicable, according to Cloyd. Kinne said that his interaction with student protestors has been "minimal."
Safety and Security did not interfere with protests prompted by last week's Republican primary debate but officers asked members of Occupy Dartmouth to leave the Green on Thursday, Le said. Members of the group tried to erect a tent-like structure, at which point they were informed by officers that they were prohibited from doing so on the Green. While protestors interpreted the officers' explanation to mean they could build a structure somewhere else and therefore relocated outside of Collis, officers once again prevented group members from erecting a tarp, according to Le.
Kinne said officers told Occupy Dartmouth participants to vacate the Green because protests in that location cannot last for more than six hours at a time.
Following requests from group members to review the College policy that prohibits tents, Kinne decided to allow students to set up a 10x10 tarp between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., he said. The decision impacted by current weather conditions is based on the understanding that protesters will move the structure to the side during daytime hours, Kinne said.
The College acknowledges students' right to protest, according to Justin Anderson, director of media relations for the College.
"We fully support the students' right to express themselves in the way that they are doing it," he said.
The protests serve as a vehicle for students to express concern regarding issues they are passionate about, an activity that the College strongly encourages, according to Anderson.
"This protest isn't about Dartmouth, or even Hanover it's part of something much larger," Anderson said.
The College's main concern is that students who choose to protest do so in a way that minimizes potential risk, he said.
Kinne said he and Occupy Dartmouth protestors have discussed the need for town permission when holding this type of protest, and the group's request for permission to continue its protest is currently under review by the Town of Hanover. The protestors possess a one-week permit, which will be reviewed by Safety and Security on a week-by-week basis, Kinne said.
Occupy Dartmouth is one of over 100 protests at colleges across the country staged in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Stephanie McFeeters contributed to the reporting of this article.
