The statement is among the most important documents considered by the Board in a case and is the first opportunity you have to describe the event and respond to the allegation. You must write it yourself; it is unacceptable to submit statements written by others, including parents, advisers, or attorneys. You are, however, encouraged to share a draft of your statement with your Board Representative, who is well-positioned to discuss, among other matters, your statement’s style, organization, length, and clarity, and to anticipate questions it may raise for the Board. In addition, you may wish to share a draft of the statement with your family members, legal counsel, or your personal adviser.

Your statement should communicate your account of the incident and its context, as well as your reflections:

Tell the story in full. This is your opportunity to relate in full the facts of the alleged incident as you recall them. You should take care to distinguish between what is known first-hand and what you may have learned later from others. 

Describe the context. The Board is especially interested in your perspective on the incident and the context in which the incident occurred. 

Reflect on the event. 

It is helpful to the Board for you to provide any conclusions you have drawn about the alleged incident, stating clearly why you believe your actions may or may not have violated a rule or standard of conduct in the College. 

If applicable, attach to your statement a descriptive list of all sources of information (e.g., persons, correspondence, records, etc.) that you believe the Board should investigate, along with a brief explanation of why you believe the inquiries would be relevant and helpful to the investigation. Please identify sources of supporting information but do not attempt to obtain them yourself; the Secretary will direct the solicitation of any statements or documents sought as part of the investigation. Once it is completed, you should sign, date, and submit your printed statement. Emailing your statement directly to the Secretary of the Board is also acceptable.