LAWSUIT: Expelled Male Sues Trustees of Dartmouth College for Unlawful Expulsion
A lawsuit was filed in New Hampshire federal district court against the Trustees of Dartmouth College on Jan. 7, 2019, alleging the College’s “unjust” and “unlawful” expulsion of a male student accused of perpetrating sexual violence against a female student. Doe alleges that the investigation did not adequately afford him due process in that it did not fully consider potentially exculpatory evidence he sought to provide. Doe also alleges that the national and campus political and social climate regarding sexual violence influenced the investigation’s finding and the sanctions taken against him…Doe asserts that the two of them watched a movie and engaged in consensual kissing and other sexual activity, excluding sexual intercourse. He recalled ‘Sally Smith’ leaving her room, stating that she needed to go help a friend. The next morning, Doe said he collected his belongings and left Smith’s room. That same afternoon, Smith emailed Dartmouth’s Title IX office, and the next day she met with Title IX coordinator Kristi Clemens and filed an official report. Over the course of the investigation, Doe and Smith were interviewed by an independent investigator. Both Doe and Smith provided text messages to the investigator, but Doe alleges in the complaint that Smith omitted or deleted several messages that provide more context for their interactions that weekend.
thedartmouth.com By Sunny Drescher
