MONTPELIER, Vt. — A Vermont college has been ordered by a federal judge to reinstate a student who was expelled over allegations of sexual misconduct that occurred during his junior year while he was studying abroad.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Garvan Murtha issued the order Wednesday, the same day classes began at Middlebury College.
In his order, Murtha noted that the Middlebury student, identified in court papers as John Doe, was cleared of wrongdoing by the School for International Training in Brattleboro, which sponsored the study abroad program, and continued his studies at Middlebury last spring. The court documents don’t say where he was studying abroad.
The order for a preliminary injunction said Doe would suffer irreparable harm if expelled before his senior year and would be unable to complete his education. He has been offered an $85,000-a-year job after graduation next spring.
Murtha’s ruling said Doe was billed for the fall semester, given a room assignment and listed as an active student enrolled in classes as of last week.
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