Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald releases the following statement regarding the conduct of professors at Dartmouth College:

Last week, in response to an inquiry from The Dartmouth newspaper, a Dartmouth College official stated that three professors were on paid leave, with their access to the campus restricted "pending the conclusions of ongoing investigations into allegations of serious misconduct." The official further stated that the College was engaged in a process "that protects the rights of all parties and promotes the safety of our campus community." This Office has engaged in a dialogue with Dartmouth College and we have learned from the College that it has received allegations of sexual misconduct.

Based on the information provided, this Office, along with the Grafton County Attorney's Office, the New Hampshire State Police, the Grafton County Sheriff's Office, and the Hanover Police Department, will be conducting a joint criminal investigation into this matter. Dartmouth College has pledged to work with this investigation to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of their community.

Anyone with information about these allegations is urged to contact Trooper Catherine Shackford of the New Hampshire State Police at (603) 419-8014 or catherine.shackford@dos.nh.gov, or Investigator Scott Gilbert, of the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office at (603) 931-9570 or scott.gilbert@doj.nh.gov.

Free and confidential services are available for anyone impacted by sexual violence through the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence's statewide 24-hour hotline at (800) 277-5570 or the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence's statewide 24-hour hotline at (800) 489-7273. In addition, free and confidential services for victims of domestic and sexual violence in the Upper Valley are also available locally through WISE and its 24-hour crisis line at (866) 348-WISE (9473). A person does not need to be in immediate crisis to call a hotline.

Because this is now a criminal investigation, we are constrained in providing further details at this time. We will provide further information when we can do so, consistent with our obligation to ensure the integrity of the investigation. At this time, we have no basis to conclude that there is a threat to the general public.