Elizabeth Dunn ’18, who on Dec. 12 posted a list on Facebook accusing 36 current and former male students of sexual misconduct, has received official college discipline in the form of a letter in their file.
Official college discipline is a permanent attachment to a student’s file and must be reported if a student is asked whether they have received college discipline. It is also reported to the parents and guardians of the student.
“I’ve received official college discipline in the form of a letter that goes on my permanent record, for violating the respect for persons policy and obstructing a Title IX investigation (i.e. not sharing the names of survivors),” said Dunn, who uses they/them pronouns.
Dunn declined an interview with The Campus. However, they did participate in an interview with Seven Days last month before the college had reached a disciplinary decision.
“I could be facing suspension or expulsion. Middlebury judicial affairs has refused to take anything off the table right now,” Dunn said at the time of the interview.
Warnings, reprimands and probationary status, which are issued to students who commit nonacademic general offenses, are not a part of a student’s permanent record. These offenses are followed in severity by official college discipline and then suspension, which are permanent on a student’s file.
Official college discipline results from actions that violate Middlebury’s standards and policies. The handbook also states that further disciplinary action will likely result in suspension.
The handbook states, “Official college discipline is intended to encourage immediate improved behavior, and acceptance of responsibility and growth by establishing this incident on the student’s permanent record.”
Dunn told the Seven Days reporter that although they are applying to law school, they are not concerned with the discipline on their record hurting their chances of being accepted. Dunn said their backup plan is working in the Bronx public defender’s office.
Dunn said they stood by their decision to post the list.
“This harm is being done by, like, specific people and by specific individuals, and if we want to move toward a conversation about, like, healing and accountability and growth, there needs to be some acknowledgment that harm was done,” Dunn told Seven Days.
Bill Burger, the college’s spokesman, told The Campus that he could not respond to questions related to an individual student’s case.
