Where you'll find the latest news from Norwich University in Northfield, Vt

Friday, October 9, 2009

For Immediate Release
Oct. 9, 2009
Contact: Daphne Larkin
802-485-2886
dlarkin@norwich.edu

NEWS RELEASE

Norwich investigating students suspected of assault on another student

NORTHFIELD, Vt. (Oct. 9, 2009) – Norwich University officials have begun an investigation into an incident in which several Rooks (freshmen cadets) allegedly assaulted another Rook after lights-out on Sunday night.

Norwich University officials are cooperating with Northfield Police, who are also investigating the allegations.

The alleged incident involved approximately 13 Rooks, and all students implicated in this event remain on campus.

The incident had been discovered and responded to by a team of cadre leaders on Sunday night.

The incident came to the attention of Norwich officials Monday morning when a member of the training cadre reported it to the Office of the Commandant, at which point Norwich began collecting statements from those allegedly involved.

“We applaud the cadre’s response to the situation Sunday night; they absolutely did the right thing,” said BG Michael Kelley, Vice President for Student Life and Commandant of Cadets at Norwich. “Any reported incident triggers close scrutiny by the administration. I can tell you that everyone, from the students to the senior administration, is deeply disappointed when these kinds of allegations are made,” he added. “This is not our culture and not what we’re about.”


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Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States of America and the birthplace of our nation's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).