A female College employee reported that she was sexually assaulted by an unidentified male on Sept. 21, according to a campus-wide Safety and Security alert sent Saturday night.
The reported assault occurred at around 9:30 p.m. near the Church of Christ, between College St. and Novack Cafe. The aggressor is described as a college-aged white male, with short hair and an athletic build. He is reported to be wearing a plaid shirt.
Safety and Security director Harry Kinne said the department is working with Hanover Police, who is "aggressively investigating" the case. The suspect remains unidentified, but Safety and Security and Hanover Police have both received several tips.
Safety and Security originally identified the woman as a student at the College, but corrected the mistake in an email on Sunday morning.
Kinne said that officers are working with the residential education office to provide safety advice and ensure that students are aware of the assault.
"The suggestions are the normal security precautions," Kinne said. "Keep your door locked and walk to places in groups.' They are routine suggestions."
Emma Lape '16, who lives in the McLaughlin cluster, located near the location of the reported assault, said she nor other McLaughlin residents did not receive a specific email regarding the incident.
"I find the assault very troubling, regardless of exactly where on campus it occurred," Lape said in an email.
Safety and Security will increase the frequency of foot patrols around campus and will have more officers on patrol in response to the assault. The College currently has 56 emergency Blue Light telephones installed at locations around campus, including near Novack, according to the Dartmouth College Student Handbook. The phones are direct lines to Safety and Security.
Kinne said that anyone with information regarding the case should contact either Safety and Security or the Hanover Police.
The College has gained national attention several times in the last year for controversies involving sexual assault and the administrative response to such incidents.
The administration canceled classes on April 24 after students involved in a protest during Dimensions weekend received death threats. The protestors, many of whom were members of Real Talk Dartmouth, interrupted the traditional welcome show to protest the way the College handles sexual assault.
The Education Department is currently investigating the College for potential Title IX violations relating to the College's response to sexual harassment claims and the designation and notice of a Title IX coordinator.
The college's Committee on Standards has also been criticized for not releasing annual reports, which includes information on sexual assault. According the Dartmouth Student Handbook, COS is expected to release these reports each academic year. As of May 2013, the last report issued was from the 2009-2010 academic year, but a report covering the period from 2010 to 2013 has since been released.
A group of Dartmouth alumni created a group, Dartmouth Change, to pressure the College to fight sexual assault. Dartmouth Change stated that the College should adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual assault and would expel any student who was found guilty of the crime.
