Red paint was dumped over the front of Dartmouth Hall yesterday morning. It was an act of protest against the war in Gaza, according to an interview with a source who claimed full responsibility.
“Despite the known atrocities unfolding, Dartmouth insists on fueling the war machine through its cooperation with arms manufacturers complicit with the Gaza genocide,” the source said.
The Dartmouth granted the source full anonymity to speak openly about their motivations.
The paint was visible on white facade of the historic building facing the Green for several hours as students headed to and from classes, before being largely scrubbed away by College crews by around 11 a.m. Crews were still working on carrying away window panels that had been splattered with red paint at 1 p.m.
A College spokesperson said that Hanover Police and the Department of Safety and Security are investigating the incident.
“Dartmouth prizes and defends the freedom of expression and dissent,” she wrote. “Vandalism, however, is unacceptable and not protected by Dartmouth policies.”
In the interview, the anonymous source said the fact that the vandalization occurred as prospective members of the Class of 2029 were visiting campus for Dartmouth Dimensions was not a coincidence.
“As Dartmouth welcomes the Class of 2029 to campus, university students in Gaza must put their education on pause for the second consecutive year due to Israel’s continued assault on the Gaza Strip,” the source said. “Let the blood that drips from Dartmouth Hall remind you of the price of silence.”
The anonymous source also criticized the College’s free speech policies.
“‘Institutional restraint’ is not neutrality, it is their refusal to admit wrongdoing,” the source said. “May the future students know the fascist nature of this institution and continue to fight for divestment and a free Palestine.”
Update Appended (April 29, 11:59 a.m.): This article has been updated to include a statement from the College.
Kent Friel ‘26 is an executive editor at The Dartmouth.
Charlotte Hampton is the editor-in-chief of The Dartmouth. She hails from New York, N.Y., and is studying government and philosophy at the College.
She can be reached at editor@thedartmouth.com or on Signal at 9176831832.
