The Aftermath of Tragedy on Campus - 2010 Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference, Margolis...
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Transcript of The Aftermath of Tragedy on Campus - 2010 Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference, Margolis...
The Aftermath of Tragedy on Campus
Dr. Gary J. MargolisSteven J. Healy
Jeffrey J. Nolan, Esq.
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew
Suspect on the Loose at Delaware State
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• MGQ Case Example
• Challenges (Students, Faculty/Staff, Media)
• Legal Issues
• Collaboration
• Lessons Learned
AGENDA
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Michelle Gardner-Quinn
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Media Coverage
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The Facts
• Report missing on Saturday, Oct 7, 2006 by parents at UVM for parent’s weekend
• Last seen in the early morning hours returning to campus
• In cell phone contact with friends when her phone failed
• Made a call from a borrowed cell phone
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The Missing Person Case
• Recognized immediately as an unusual case by police investigators
• Campus/city fear and anxiety
• National media arrived Tuesday (10/10/06)
• Staging and media management concerns arise
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Investigation & Response
• 70-plus local, state and federal investigators
• Search & Rescue Teams
• 24/7 Command Post at BPD
• Family liaison
• Media liaison
• University EOC
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The Suspect: Brian Rooney
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Why the National Attention?
• Vermont & the University of Vermont
• Suspected foul play - abduction/kidnapping
• Media indicated that had this been a “routine” rape/murder investigation without the disappearance, then it would have carried little national interest
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Challenges: STUDENTS
•Those directly involved (guilt/trauma)
•Residential community
•Re-victimization
• Students wanting to help
• Prayer Vigils, Memorial Services, Contemplative Spaces
•Counseling services
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Challenges: FACULTY/STAFF
• Impact on student services personnel
•Counseling Staff / EAP Support
• Perception of safety
• Security demands
• IT & phone staff
• Faculty support
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Challenges: MEDIA
• Logistics of managing local and national news crews (competing interests)
• Media biases
• Press conference schedule - “Feed the Beast”
• Website and server challenges (managing constant media calls)
• Family’s privacy vs. Media access
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Interviews
• “Talk Shows” vs. “News”: What to consider before appearing on Greta, Nancy, Geraldo or Bill
• Prevalence of misinformation
• Impact of national television re: leads and tips
• Coordinating family statements
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Communications
• Are you communicating appropriately?
• Are you saying the “right” things?
• Victim-blaming
• Message box should include
- Compassion
- Sensitivity
- Caring
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Legal Issues: Communications
• Potential Liability Issues (tragedies on campus/connected with institutions)
- Anything you say can and will be used against you!
- Have counsel work with public relations on statements
• FERPA Issues
- Rights of student victims
- Rights of roommates, other connected students
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Collaboration
• Media (local and national)
• University Departments
• City Departments
• Local, State and Federal Law Enforcement
• Other IHEs
• NGOs
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Lessons Learned
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Lessons Learned: Staffing
• Counseling Center & Employee Assistance
• Staffing Support (student services, public safety, food services, admin)
• Policies on school closure
• After Action Reviews
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Lessons Learned: Crisis Communication Plan
• Website and servers
• Media list-serve (eliminated media interruptions)
• Voicemail access for community
• Media briefing schedule & location
• Public safety forums (city and campus)
• Who speaks to media and related legal issues
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew
Lessons Learned: Media Management
• Relationship with media (local/national)
• Staging area
- Away from department
- Accessible
- As agreeable as is possible
• Mitigate conflicts with national talk show programs’ interview schedules
• Negotiate to prevent interference with investigation
• Support family in media relations
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew 22
• Relationships
- Town/Gown
- University internal
- State/Local/Federal
• Campus resources
- Dining Services
- Print Services
- Technology & IT Infrastructure
- PIO
Lessons Learned: Town/Gown Relations
Jeffrey J. Nolan, Esq.Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C.
1-802-864-5751
[email protected] www.dinse.com
Contact Information
Steven J. HealyDr. Gary Margolis
Margolis, Healy and Associates1-866-817-5817
www.margolis-healy.comwww.CampusCrimePrevention.org
www.CampusThreatAssessment.org