Crisis WSU

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

1/13

Crisis At WashingtonCrisis At Washington

State UniversityState UniversityCrisis Plan in the event any member of the WSU Athletic Department isCrisis Plan in the event any member of the WSU Athletic Department is

accused of sexual misconduct or abuseaccused of sexual misconduct or abuse

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

2/13

Definition of CrisisDefinition of Crisis

A crisis is an unplanned event that directly orA crisis is an unplanned event that directly or

potentially threatens the reputations of Washingtonpotentially threatens the reputations of Washington

State University or any of its stakeholders.State University or any of its stakeholders.

WSUs responseWSUs response

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

3/13

WhyWhy WsuWsu??

Penn StPenn St

SyracuseSyracuse

St. Petersburg CollegeSt. Petersburg College

Mike LeachMike Leach

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

4/13

WSU informationWSU information

Population in Pullman,Population in Pullman, WA.populationWA.population 27,000+27,000+

Student populationStudent population18,000+18,000+

Top 60 public research universitiesTop 60 public research universities

PacPac--1212

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

5/13

StakeholdersStakeholders

Current and potential studentsCurrent and potential students

Current and potential faculty and staffCurrent and potential faculty and staff

The Pullman communityThe Pullman community

AlumniAlumni

DonorsDonors

Washington StateWashington State

Pac 12Pac 12

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

6/13

Stakeholders (cont.)Stakeholders (cont.)

Student AthletesStudent Athletes

Future RecruitsFuture Recruits

All Departments at WSUAll Departments at WSU

Board of DirectorsBoard of Directors

ParentsParents

Local and National MediaLocal and National Media

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

7/13

CommunicationCommunication

ObjectivesObjectives

Immediate actionImmediate actionadministrative leaveadministrative leave

Defer to mission statement and goalsDefer to mission statement and goals

the department is dedicated to enhancing the the department is dedicated to enhancing the

intellectual, physical, social, moral and culturalintellectual, physical, social, moral and cultural

development of the whole person, while conducting alldevelopment of the whole person, while conducting all

activities with honesty and integrity in accordance withactivities with honesty and integrity in accordance with

the principles of good sportsmanship and ethicalthe principles of good sportsmanship and ethicalconduct.conduct.

Communicate with stakeholdersCommunicate with stakeholders

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

8/13

Roles andRoles and

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Enact crisis teamEnact crisis team

Set up Emergence Operation Center (EOC)Set up Emergence Operation Center (EOC)

Control release of informationControl release of information

Establish and maintain news conference centerEstablish and maintain news conference center

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

9/13

Roles andRoles and

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

PR leadPR leadAthletic DirectorAthletic Director

SM leadSM leadAssigned my Athletic DirectorAssigned my Athletic Director

PRBackupPRBackupAssigned by Athletic DirectorAssigned by Athletic Director

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

10/13


with Presswith Press

Immediate apologia statementImmediate apologia statement

Immediately draft official statement and press releaseImmediately draft official statement and press release

Message the statement to all stakeholdersMessage the statement to all stakeholders

Honest and openHonest and open

Under no circumstances is Mike Leach to give hisUnder no circumstances is Mike Leach to give his

opinion to mediaopinion to media

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

11/13


with stakeholderswith stakeholders

EmailEmailalumni, donorsalumni, donors

Local news networksLocal news networksPullman communityPullman community

State officialsState officialsspirit of cooperation, direct access tospirit of cooperation, direct access to

Athletic DirectorAthletic Director

Board of DirectorsBoard of Directorsroutinely briefedroutinely briefed

National MediaNational Mediawork with journalists utilizingwork with journalists utilizing

existing relationshipsexisting relationships

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

12/13

ToolsTools

Contact listContact list

List of membersList of members

Telephone log sheetsTelephone log sheets

Initial releaseInitial release

Checklist for news conference centerChecklist for news conference center

Checklist forEOCChecklist forEOC

8/3/2019 Crisis WSU

13/13

Final thoughtsFinal thoughts

Immediate administrative action against the accusedImmediate administrative action against the accused

Immediate release of statementImmediate release of statement

Communicate with all stakeholders through variousCommunicate with all stakeholders through various

channelschannels

Update, update, updateUpdate, update, update

Debrief once crisis is overDebrief once crisis is over

Documents

Crisis WSU