<p>I agree with the other two replies. My daughter will be a member of the class of 2018, and is looking forward very much to arriving in Hanover this fall. I am confident in the “overall safety” of Dartmouth for her and her classmates. Otherwise, I would definitely have wanted to dissuade her from even applying. Dartmouth and the town of Hanover are very safe overall. Having said that, students need to learn and practice basic behaviors to help ensure the safety of themselves and their peers. And that’s really the case not only on campus (whatever campus that may be) but also out in the “real world.” </p>
<p>Regarding sororities, if you do attend Dartmouth, you would probably be best served by having an open mind when you arrive on campus. Rush does not occur until sophomore year. You have plenty of time to decide whether or not to rush a sorority (or a co-ed house) and if so, which one(s) you would like to join. Maybe you will, maybe you won’t; but you don’t have to decide until you know far more about the college, sororities and yourself.</p>
<p>Lastly, while there has been recent press coverage regarding sexual assault issues at Dartmouth (and at other colleges), Dartmouth is in the midst of adopting new, much tougher disciplinary rules on sexual assault. As at other schools, the campus is also focusing a lot of additional effort on education and prevention. The result may well be that Dartmouth will be safer than many of its peer colleges in this area. Also, always remember that protests can indicate the existence of problems, but they also indicate a passionate group of students who are taking steps to address problems. </p>
<p>Best wishes to you in your decision.</p>