Hunger strike by 2 Dartmouth students is over

HANOVER, N.H. (WCAX) – A hunger strike by Dartmouth College students in solidarity with classmates arrested during a Gaza war protest last fall is now over.

The college in an email Friday said that after talks with the two remaining students, they chose to end their strike.

It comes as the trial of Kevin Engel and junior Roan Wade got underway this week over trespassing charges they picked up after refusing to break down a tent they had pitched in front of the president’s office.

Eight students began the hunger strike last month with a list of demands including that the charges against Wade and Engel be dropped

“Following discussions with the remaining students involved in a hunger strike, we are pleased to share that they have chosen to end the strike,” Dartmouth’s Dean of College Scott Brown said in a statement Friday. “We know some members of our community disagreed with the arrest of two students for trespassing on the lawn of Parkhurst Hall in the fall, feeling that these students were unfairly characterized. After discussions with these students, we now understand that they are consistently nonviolent activists.”