Dartmouth College: Administrators Force Andy Ngo Event Online, Citing Safety Concerns
Cases
Dartmouth College
Case Overview
On January 20, 2022, Dartmouth鈥檚 College Republicans, Turning Point USA, and Network of Enlightened Women chapters planned to host an event with conservative journalist Andy Ngo. Dartmouth鈥檚 administration unilaterally canceled the in-person event, citing 鈥渋nformation鈥 from local law enforcement, and required the event be conducted online. No protesters appeared. FIREwrote to Dartmouth on January 26, asking for clarification about what specific threats or security risks precipitated the decision.
Dartmouth claimed that student safety concerns informed by law enforcement forced it to cancel the event, but 果冻传媒app官方鈥檚 open record requests to the local Hanover Police Department revealed that the university鈥檚 administration unilaterally moved the event online, despite no evidence of any serious threats to disrupt campus. Dartmouth then imposed $3,600 on the College Republicans for the security the university hired for the event. FIREwrote again to Dartmouth in April explaining how it may not financially burden student groups for holding expressive events.