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Three psychology professors at Dartmouth College are the subjects of a criminal investigation following reports of alleged sexual misconduct.
According to New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald, his office is launching a joint investigation in response to reports in Dartmouth’s student newspaper claiming that the Ivy League school was looking into “allegations of serious misconduct.”
Dartmouth, an Ivy League school, placed the three professors — Todd Heatherton, Bill Kelley and Paul Whalen — on paid leave and restricted their access to campus while college officials conduct their own investigation.
via NBC News:
In a statement posted to the university’s website Tuesday, the college confirmed that professors Todd Heatherton, Bill Kelley, and Paul Whalen were under investigation. All three teach in the college’s Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences. The professors have been put on paid leave with restricted access to Dartmouth property, the school said.
Last week, the student-run newspaper “The Dartmouth,” reported that posters had been placed around campus asking, “Where is Prof. Paul Whalen?” and “Where is Prof. Bill Kelley?”
When reporters questioned university officials, they were informed that all three men had been placed on leave pending the outcome of a university investigation.
Dartmouth released a full statement about the investigation:
A joint criminal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Dartmouth Faculty of Arts and Sciences professors Todd Heatherton, Bill Kelley, and Paul Whalen has been launched by the New Hampshire attorney general’s office, the Grafton County attorney, New Hampshire State Police, the Grafton County sheriff’s office, and Hanover police, according to College spokeswoman Diana Lawrence.
Last week, the College issued a statement confirming its own ongoing investigations, Lawrence says. While those investigations are pending, the three faculty members are on paid leave, with restricted access to Dartmouth property.
“Dartmouth is cooperating with law enforcement,” says Lawrence. “From the outset of our investigations, we have encouraged the reporting of possible crimes to law enforcement and have offered resources to support that reporting.”
The attorney general’s office has provided contacts for anyone with information about these allegations. People can contact State Police Trooper Catherine Shackford at (603) 419-8014 or catherine.shackford@dos.nh.gov, or Scott Gilbert, an investigator in the attorney general’s office, at (603) 931-9570 or scott.gilbert@doj.nh.gov.
All three suspended professors teach in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.
The university urges those needing help with matters involving sexual assault to find information and resources on Dartmouth College’s sexual respect website.
