To the Dartmouth Community,

The members of Women in the Wilderness stand in solidarity with the First-Year Trips Directorate and with all of those whom the recently published op-ed has affected.

The recently published op-ed goes against values that are deeply rooted in our Mission Statement; while we aim to “foster discussion about gender relations and the value of empowering women through outdoors trips," the op-ed challenges the merit of some of Dartmouth’s most qualified leaders.

We are extremely saddened by the way the op-ed has affected individuals on this campus. However, we are also grateful for the way communities have stood up in support of the trips directorate and for the discussions that have been spurred.

As a community dedicated to fostering female leadership, we are committed to continuing these discussions. We hope that future conversation in our club can extend past focusing on a single article or individual and instead examine how we can better foster an inclusive community going forward.

In Solidarity,

Women in the Wilderness