DGALA | Dartmouth LGBTQIA+ Alum Association

See below for the joint correspondence from the Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association (BADA), Dartmouth Association of Latino/a/x Alumni (DALA), Dartmouth Asian Pacific American Alumni Association (DAPAAA), Dartmouth LGBTQIA+ Alum Association (DGALA), Native American Alumni Association of Dartmouth (NAAAD), and Women of Dartmouth (WD).

Attn:
Sian Beilock ‘76a, President
David Kotz ‘86, Provost
Eizabeth Cahill Lempres ‘83, Th ‘84, Chair of the Board of Trustees

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Subject: Campus Protests & Arrests | The Way Forward

Dear President Beilock, Provost Kotz, and Board Chair Lempres,

As representatives of Dartmouth’s affiliated alumni – collectively numbering half of all living alumni – we affirm our commitment to combating all forms of prejudice, discrimination, and violence. We firmly stand against antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, sexism, ableism, hate, and all forms of intimidation based on an individual’s or community’s identity. We are dedicated to fostering an environment where all persons and cultures are treated with dignity, respect, and equality. We believe in the inherent worth and value of every human being and strive to create a society free from bigotry and intolerance.

We write in response to the decision to involve law enforcement in a nonviolent student-led protest on May 1, 2024. As representatives of the Dartmouth affiliated alumni groups, we question this decision. We are concerned that it caused harm to the individuals who were arrested, as well as to the students, faculty, staff, and area residents who were present when the officers in riot gear arrived, and to the community outside of Hanover, writ large, especially admitted students, prospective scholars, and alumni. Dartmouth should not have summoned law enforcement to arrest nonviolent protest participants. Dartmouth should not have approved law enforcement use of Dartmouth Outing Club vans to round up peaceful protestors, obstructing the orderly processes of the institution while peaceful protesters followed the spirit of the Freedom of Expression and Dissent policy.

We affirm our shared belief that diversity and inclusion are the cornerstones of an effective learning environment and a meaningful liberal arts education. It is in fulfillment of this principle that we ask that you consider our recommendations. Accompanying this joint correspondence, please find additional organizational letters and statements relevant to our concerns.

We strongly and unanimously believe that all community members – regardless of race, national origin, faith, gender identity, LGBTQIA identity, disability or any other identity or protected status – should be safe. Yet, when troopers arrived in riot gear, they threatened the safety of everyone on campus, especially those historically and disproportionately targeted and mistreated by law enforcement officers. In fact, when officers began to threaten and then make arrests, those most at risk, because of misgendering, anti-Blackness, immigration status, minority community membership, or belonging to a protected class, were severely impacted and experienced trauma as a result.

To quote three students arrested on May 1st:

“The police took my white sage, a culturally and spiritually significant item, from my pocket, and most importantly, never returned it to me upon my release.”

“The experience has made me disappointed and embarrassed that I am affiliated with this College. I am disgusted, yet not surprised…by calling the police and endangering many BIPOC students.”

“I had always thought that I was incredibly lucky to be here, and had been grateful for it all. But the College’s response…showed me how wrong I’ve been.”

In other words, even without knowing the intent, motivations, or biases of administrators and arresting officers, we know that the consequences of the arrests were experienced inequitably. The well-documented, violent arrest of Professor Annelise Orleck, for example, could have led to life-threatening injury. Any undocumented community member either participating in the protest, or simply finding themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, would have been in danger of detention or deportation. Vulnerable community members have expressed feeling betrayed. Dartmouth, where they were promised a safe place to use their brave voices to express themselves, instantly became no different from any other place.

Neither President Beilock’s statement, dated May 2, 2024, nor her apology, published May 7, 2024, commit to a course of action to move forward from this fraught moment. That’s why alumni leaders from Dartmouth’s affinity groups reached out to fellow members of our at-large community and those on campus. We also convened to begin to identify ways in which students, faculty, and alumni could work together with Dartmouth’s Administration on short-term and long-term community strengthening goals. We see ourselves as allies in the College’s effort to create a more diverse and inclusive community.

At this critical juncture, we recognize that you are likely weighing a high number of time-sensitive questions and considerations. We believe that the following three areas should be prioritized and given your urgent attention:

Amnesty for the individuals who were arrested: Dartmouth should do what is within its power to assert that arrests were made mistakenly, bail conditions should be vacated, criminal charges should be dropped, and all fines and penalties, both legal and academic, should be zeroed out.
- For a number of low- to middle-income students, graduation weekend is the first and only time their families will be on campus. Many of this year’s seniors did not have high school graduations because of the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020. We want all families to enjoy Commencement and for alumni to enjoy their Reunions.
- Uncertainty over the fate of those arrested undermines the communities we are trying to build and sustain. Amnesty would be an act of forgiveness that would begin to heal our Dartmouth community in a spirit of truth and reconciliation.
- We know this is possible because the College has successfully lobbied on behalf of the two Dartmouth journalists who were inappropriately arrested.

A community-wide reconciliation process: We believe working with a restorative practices facilitator, to engender meaningful dialogue, and a mediator, to define the best course of action to repair the damage done, are crucial steps in healing our community.
- Official statements have been made, editorials have been published, open letters have been written, individual posts have been shared and affirmed or debated over social media, and votes of no confidence have been called, but few people are talking with each other.
- Dartmouth’s Administration will need to urgently prioritize and resource on- or off-campus conversations that will lead to healing in the next three weeks prior to Commencement and Reunions to protect the integrity of these events.
  - With regard to hosting and moderating, we need a neutral, community-oriented party to rebuild relationships and restore trust. Perhaps these could be initiated by campus-based faith leaders, such as Rev. Dr. Nancy A.G. Vogele, ’85, Chaplain and Director of the Tucker Center for Spiritual and Ethical Living, and sustained with support from secular professionals versed in conflict mediation and restorative justice.
  - We believe in-person events, with students and the President, where the focus is on listening and processing these intense feelings is a crucial step to healing the community. This will be a long process but we hope the College can at least start this dialogue before the end of the term.

Transparent review of institutional practices to take steps to correct those that are out of line with our shared values and principles (even beyond May 1st): Dartmouth’s greatest asset is our community of students, faculty, staff, administration, alumni, and others.
- Our shared commitment to people over property has been affirmed numerous times, including during the movement to sever institutional investments that supported apartheid in South Africa.
- The College’s policies regarding what protestors can and cannot do are informed, in part, by what occurred when encampments were erected on the Green in the 1980s. It is time to revisit these policies. It is also time to examine staffing and resources devoted to de-escalation practices.
- Given the lack of equal protection under the law that vulnerable community members face as a result of policies in certain countries and US states, it is imperative that we examine whether or not Dartmouth is endangering the students, faculty, and support staff who participate in exchange programs, such as the Irving Institute’s relationship with Uganda Christian University which “shuns… homosexual practice” in their official statement of Value and Identity.
  - As reported by Reuters in April of this year, “Uganda’s constitutional court refused…to annul or suspend an anti-LGBTQ law that includes the death penalty for certain same-sex acts.”
- Dartmouth must examine the awarding of honorary degrees and the payment of speaking honorariums to individuals who support policies that endanger the well-being of Dartmouth community members.
  - - Dartmouth’s nondiscrimination policy applies to marital status, religion, gender expression, gender identity and sexual orientation. The policy extends to Third Parties and Invitees that occur within Dartmouth’s Education Program or Activity. Therefore, the College should not honor any individual who works for, supports, or gets compensated by any institution that openly promotes violating these values of equal access and inclusion.

Dartmouth administrators have been entrusted with community wellbeing. It is imperative to act urgently to reconcile with and restore all those who were arrested and to seek the help of experts who can guide us through community repair and the establishment of a restorative practices program, such as the one implemented at the University of Pennsylvania.

Nonviolent expressions of dissent, protest, and freedom of speech are foreseeable and normal. Part of the College’s mission is for students to find their voices. Beyond the conflict in Gaza, other points of tension are likely to emerge. The November General Election, matters before the US Supreme Court, and other events outside of Hanover, may inspire student-led demonstrations. Dartmouth’s relationship to these events and its investment in policies and programs that may be perceived to perpetuate harm are likely to lead to protests. By revisiting its Freedom of Expression and Dissent policy and rules, Dartmouth can ensure that there is not a repeat of the harms experienced on May 1, 2024. By transparently auditing its investments and moving away from the resourcing of individuals and institutions out of step with our values, Dartmouth can affirm the full humanity and equal belonging of community members who may be subject to harassment or trauma due to their background, status, or identity, and fulfill its mission of preparing future global leaders who want to enact positive change that is inclusive and diverse.

We are committed to working in concert to move Dartmouth forward. We welcome discussion of these recommendations and opportunities to collaborate in furtherance of our common goals in the weeks and months to come. We hope you keep the lines of communication open, encourage you to contact us with any questions, and ask that you explore additional ways that our groups can be helpful in bringing the greater Dartmouth community together in a constructive and positive way.

For Dartmouth and in community,

Dartmouth Affiliated Groups:
BADA | Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association
DALA | Dartmouth Association of Latino/a/x Alumni
DAPAAA | Dartmouth Asian Pacific American Alumni Association
DGALA | Dartmouth LGBTQIA+ Alum Association
NAAAD | Native American Alumni Association of Dartmouth
WD | Women of Dartmouth

Executive Officers:
Imithri De Silva Bodhinayake MED’10, Co-Chair, WD
Maria Cole ‘84, President, BADA
Sarah Gupta ‘19, Immediate Past Chair, DAPAAA
Erik Ochsner ‘93, President, DGALA
Keli’i Opulauoho ‘96, P ’26, Co-President NAAAD
Christine Benally Peranteau ‘06, Co-Chair, WD
Kially Ruiz ‘98, President, DALA
Stephanie Westnedge ‘92, Co-Chair, DAPAAA

Attachments:

April 22, 2024 – DGALA letter
May 2, 2024 – DALA statement
May 4, 2024 – DGALA statement
May 4, 2024 – DAPAAA statement
May 14 2024 – BADA statement
May 15, 2024 – DAPAAA letter

CC:
Jeffrey M. Blackburn ’91, Charter Trustee
Constance W. Britton ’89, Charter Trustee
Jeffrey M. Crowe ’78, Alumni Trustee
Susan M. Finegan ’85 (Vice-Chair), Alumni Trustee
James S. Frank ’65, Charter Trustee
Odette A. Harris ’91, Alumni Trustee
Susan S. Huang ’84, Charter Trustee
Neal K. Katyal ’91, Charter Trustee
Gregg R. Lemkau ’91, Alumni Trustee
Richard W. Lewis ’84 (Vice-Chair), Charter Trustee
Christopher H. Lord ’86, Charter Trustee
Elizabeth Mahoney Loughlin ’89, Charter Trustee
David M. McKenna ’89, Charter Trustee
Jane Pfaff Novak ’92, Charter Trustee
Shonda L. Rhimes ’91 H’14, Charter Trustee
Erica Ruliffson Schultz ’95, Charter Trustee
Joyce A. Sackey, M.D. ’85 MED ’89, Alumni Trustee
Todd B. Sisitsky ’93, Charter Trustee
Scott M. Stuart ’81, Charter Trustee
Governor Christopher T. Sununu
Jacob P. Tapper ’91, H’17, Charter Trustee
Hilary C. Tompkins ’90, H’19, Alumni Trustee
Barbara Will, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Kenya Tyson, Senior Associate Provost
Dean Lacy, Vice Provost, Faculty Affairs
Dean Madden, Vice Provost, Research
Eric Fossum, Vice Provost, Entrepreneurship & Technology Transfer
Scott C. Brown, Dean of the College
Susanne Mehrer, Dean of the Libraries
Michael W. Davis, Vice President for Information Technology & Chief Information Officer
Matt S. Duncan, Special Advisor to the Provost on Student Mental Health
Laura A. Ogden, Special Advisor to the Provost on Climate and Sustainability
Elizabeth Smith, Dean of Faculty
Duane Compton, Dean, Geisel School of Medicine
Alexis Abramson, Dean, Thayer School of Engineering
Matthew J. Slaughter, Dean, Tuck School of Business
Jon Kull, Dean, Guarini School of Graduate & Advanced Studies
Cheryl A. Bascomb ‘82, Vice President, Dartmouth Alumni Relations
Justin Anderson, Senior Vice President for Communications
LaMur Bunts, Chief Transformation Officer
Lee Coffin, Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
Shontay Delalue, Senior Vice President and Senior Diversity Officer
Scott Frew, Chief Financial Officer
Estevan Garcia, Chief Health and Wellness Officer
Mike Harrity, Haldeman Family Director of Athletics and Recreation
Sandhya Iyer, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Trustees
Ann Root Keith, Chief Advancement Officer
Josh Keniston, Senior Vice President of Capital Planning and Campus Operations
Robert Lasher, Senior Vice President for University Advancement
Alice Ruth, Chief Investment Officer
Emma Wolfe, VP for Government and Community Relations
Marisa Shariatdoust, Director of Alumni Engagement
Jomysha Delgado Stephen, EVP for Strategy and Special Counsel to the President

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