Dartmouth College, an elite Ivy League institution, recently paid millions to settle a sexual assault suit.

According to the New Hampshire Union Leader, Dartmouth paid $14 million to settle a sexual misconduct lawsuit brought by nine former students. The plaintiffs, all women who studied in the psychology department, claimed that male faculty had harassed and assaulted them and that college administration did nothing to stop it.

The Allegations

The women filed their lawsuit in November 2018, alleging that three professors (one of whom has since retired; the other two resigned) regularly made “demeaning comments” and engaged in inappropriate conversations about their personal lives. In their complaint, the women said they were pressured into sexual acts by the professors who controlled their course studies, and ultimately, their future careers.

Specific allegations included threats of academic and professional consequence if they rejected the professors’ advances or pressure to drink and attend “hot tub” parties. Two of the women said they were raped after being coerced into consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. Two others allegedly attempted suicide due to the devastating emotional and psychological impacts of the professors’ behaviors.

’21^st Century Animal House’

Referencing a popular 1970s film, the plaintiffs compared Dartmouth’s psychology department to the campus depicted in “Animal House,” which starred the late comedian John Belushi.

The women had been registering complaints since at least 2002, according to the lawsuit. One student said that in retaliation, her thesis was given a failing grade, while another said she was forced to transfer to another department and was ultimately expelled from the college.

New Hampshire’s Attorney General finally launched a criminal investigation into the matter in October 2017.

Sexual Assault on College Campuses

The issue of sexual assault on college campuses has only drawn widespread public attention in recent years. Part of the problem is that only about 20 percent of sexual assaults are ever reported to the police.

According to the federal Office on Womens’ Health, one out of five college women is raped or sexually harassed, most often during freshman year. Age, race and ethnic background do not play a significant role in determining who is likely to be assaulted, however women who identify as LGBTQ are more likely to be victims.

Most sexual assault on college campuses involve drugs and alcohol. According to Health and Human Services, 15 percent of college women who are raped were incapacitated, either by alcohol, a “date-rape” drug, or a combination of the two. Young, college-aged adults are particularly at risk, as many begin experimenting with drugs and alcohol during their freshman year at a college or university.

Protecting Yourself

If you are a young woman attending college for the first time, remember that there is safety in numbers as well as in public places. It is wise to attend parties in the company of trusted friends, and to exercise caution when drinking. If you are meeting someone on a date for the first time, do so in a public place – and get to know the person well before spending time alone with them. Additional safety tips can be found at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) website.

Join a Free Sexual Assault Lawsuit Investigation

If you were a victim of sexual assault by any person in an athletic, school, medical, or employment setting, you are entitled to a free case evaluation to find out your potential remedies and compensation. Fill out the FREE form on this page for more information.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.