Sexual Misconduct at URI: School Blocks Release of List of Partygoers at President's Home

Sexual Misconduct at URI: School Blocks Release of List of Partygoers at President's Home

A GoLocal request under the RI Access to Public Records Act for a list of the attendees at the August party -- which included lawmakers -- at President David Dooley's house was blocked by the University of Rhode Island.

At the event, there was a reported incident of sexual misconduct. The University refuses to release any of the details, but told GoLocal in a statement that none of the legislators, guests or Dooley was involved.

Specifically, after GoLocal first broke the story, it requested a list of those invited to the event, as well as those who attended.

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The party hosted by Dooley was held in a state-building and used state staff to coordinate the party.

The University claims that to release the list of attendees would constitute a violation of privacy.

“Your request directly involves personal individually identifiable records the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy and therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to RIGL 38-2-2(4)(A)(I)(b),” said Louis J. Saccoccio, General Counsel at URI.

The letter from URI to GoLocal did not identify whose privacy would be invaded. A follow-up email to Saccoccio was not responded to at the time of publication.

Saccoccio also asserts in his response to GoLocal’s records request, “In addition, the requested records are part of an ongoing investigation of a public body pertaining to possible violations of statute, rule or regulation and are also exempt from disclosure pursuant to RIGL 38-2-2(P).  Your request for records must therefore be denied for the reasons stated.”

GoLocal did not request the name of the alleged victim or the alleged perpetrator.

The first reporting on this incident was when GoLocal reported the following on September 17:

URI is investigating a report of sexual misconduct following a party at President David Dooley's house.

The University of Rhode Island is investigating a report of sexual misconduct, at a party at President David Dooley's house -- in which members of the General Assembly were present. 

The reception was held in August, to celebrate the passage of legislation passed during the recent General Assembly session to shift URI governance from the Council of Postsecondary Education to create a Board of Trustees.

Many of the top legislators were in attendance. Dooley had been a strong proponent of legislation to remove URI's governance from the control of the state's Board of Education.

According to URI's communication office -- the President and legislators present are "not parties to the complaint."

"The University is actively investigating a complaint and cannot provide details regarding the investigation other than to share that the President and his guests, including legislators, are not parties to the complaint," said Linda Acciardo in a statement to GoLocalProv.com

URI would not provide any additional information, as to when the report was filed, who was in attendance at the party -- and whether or not outside law enforcement was contacted. 

URI Police Chief Stephen Baker told GoLocal that no complaint has been filed with his department.