A month after the March 5, 2014, firing of Keene State College employee Eugene “Gino” Vallante, Media Relations Manager Kelly Ricaurte indicated the college’s internal investigation with McLane Law Firm into Vallante’s alleged misconduct is ongoing.
Additionally, Ricuarte stated the separate review of USNH policy for which KSC has retained McLane Law Firm, “has not yet been completed.” She continued, “Only when the review is complete will we know if changes to policies are recommended.”
Ricaurte stated college officials have made, “deliberate, targeted efforts to reach out to students in order to answer their questions.” Ricuarte later clarified this statement that the college is working to “gather information from students that may [be] critical to the investigation.”
When asked specifically whether the college and McLane Law Firm have approached KSC Men’s Basketball players between 2005 and 2013 who, according to college documents, would have worked alongside Vallante during his employment with KSC, Ricaurte responded, “The details that you are requesting are part of the ongoing investigation, which is a priority of the college at this time.”
A statement released by the college in March stated the University System of New Hampshire, “has retained former NH Attorney General Michael A. Delaney, a partner in the McLane Law Firm, to conduct a system-wide review of the policies, procedures and compliance protocols related to the reporting of misconduct for the purpose of ensuring student safety.”
Now more than a month later, Ricuarte stated in an email Delaney continues to, “thoroughly review policies in place at USNH institutions.”
Julie Conlon can be contacted at jconlon@keene-equinox.com