About Us

Who We Are

The Dartmouth Independent covers Dartmouth College and the Upper Valley -- Hanover, Lebanon, White River Junction, and the towns in between. We don't answer to the college administration, any political group, or advertisers. That's the point.

We write for students, faculty, locals, and alumni who want straight reporting on what's actually happening on campus and in their communities. No spin, no press releases repackaged as news.

How We Got Here

The Beginning (2004)

Anoop Rathod, Michael Greene, and Pooneet Kant started The Dartmouth Independent in fall 2004. They were frustrated. Campus political publications had split into predictable camps, and the three of them wanted something different: an outlet where the editorial board included people across the political spectrum, where stories got the point-counterpoint treatment instead of one-sided takes.

Going online-only was a deliberate choice. Print costs money. Web publishing let a small team put out stories fast and often. In 2004, that was still unusual for a college publication.

The First Run (2004 to 2013)

For nine years, the Independent covered campus politics, student government fights, Greek life controversies, cultural events, and Upper Valley news. The last regular issues came out in spring 2013. After that, activity dropped off. It happens with student-run publications -- people graduate, institutional memory fades.

Back in 2025

We relaunched in fall 2025 with a broader scope than the original. The archive from 2004 through 2013 is restored and searchable. But the Independent isn't just a campus politics outlet anymore. We cover Hanover's zoning fights, Upper Valley school boards, DHMC, local business, Big Green athletics, arts at the Hop. If it matters to people who live, work, or study here, we're writing about it.

What We Stand For

Four things guide every editorial decision we make:

• Independence. No ties to the college, no political affiliations, no outside pressure on what we publish.
• Multiple perspectives. If there's a real disagreement, we talk to both sides. Period.
• Local first. Students, faculty, staff, Lebanon families, Hanover business owners -- these are our readers. We write for them.
• Free and open. No paywall. Everything we publish is available to everyone.

Coverage Areas

Contact Us

We welcome tips, feedback, and story ideas from our community.

• Email: editors@dartmouthindependent.com
• Social: Instagram, Threads, Facebook, LinkedIn