Dartmouth: Officials didn’t know of sexual misconduct claims

CONCORD, N.H. — Dartmouth College says it was unaware of allegations of sexual misconduct by three professors until students came forward.

That response Tuesday was the college’s first to a federal lawsuit filed in November by seven current and former students. The suit accuses Dartmouth of ignoring years of harassment and assault by psychology department professors. It alleges that the professors harassed women and groped them. Two are also accused of rape.

Two have not commented on the allegations, while one has apologized for inappropriate behaviour but denied having sexual relations with students.

Dartmouth says it has evidence of some inappropriate behaviour, but not of the more serious assault allegations.

Dartmouth says that once it was alerted it sought to end the professors’ tenure and employment. The university says that before it could act, one retired and the others resigned.

Michael Casey, The Associated Press