The University of New Hampshire has hired the state’s former attorney general, Mike Delaney, to lead an investigation into reporting delays of improprieties involving an athletics department employee.
The improprieties came to light on Feb. 21 after the arrest of Scott A. Weitzell, the part-time director of operations for the UNH men’s basketball program, who was charged with trying to take video and still images of the team in a locker room.
The conduct was allegedly committed at the University of Vermont, where the basketball team played a game on Jan. 20. The incident was reported by “a UNH staff member,” who heard about it from members of the men’s basketball team, on February 20.
Police obtained a search warrant to seize Weitzell’s mobile phone, which reportedly contained the images. Media reports suggested that Weitzell had the phone on him when police attempted to confiscate it, and then tried to destroy it.
Meanwhile, the school suspended Weitzell on Feb. 21 and fired him four days later.
UNH President Mark Huddleston said he was “deeply troubled” by the amount of time that elapsed between the Vermont game and the date when the incident was reported.
At the time, the school issued the following statement:
“The staff member was placed on administrative leave and subsequently terminated. The University of New Hampshire takes any and all allegations of misconduct by a member of our community very seriously. While we cannot talk about the specifics of ongoing police investigations, UNH is cooperating fully with all law enforcement agencies.”
But Huddleston was clearly bothered by the delay in reporting the impropriety.
“Mr. Delaney and his colleagues will have full access to necessary resources and personnel to ensure a thorough and timely investigation into the reporting delays,” he said.
“Our students and their parents count on us to act swiftly and decisively when we learn of misconduct. We, in turn, count on every member of our campus community to report any and all forms of misconduct without delay.”
About Delaney
Delaney is part of the law firm of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton Professional Association. Prior to that, he served for four years as Attorney General of New Hampshire. Prior to his government experience, Delaney worked for five years in private practice, focusing on complex business litigation cases.
In addition to serving New Hampshire as Attorney General, he has served on the New Hampshire Bar Association’s Ethics Committee, the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s Committee on Character and Fitness and on the Board of Directors of the Council of State Government’s Justice Center.
