Editor’s Note: On Oct. 17 Ohio University President Roderick McDavis sent a blast email response to an alleged sexual assault that occurred on Court Street. The incident has since drawn national media attention. James E. Lukaszewski, a crisis management expert who counsels companies facing serious internal and external problems, contacted The Post, assessed McDavis’ email and explained how he should have written the response.
McDAVIS’ Email: “Over the course of the past few days, Ohio University has been cast into the national spotlight following an incident involving allegations of non-consensual sexual contact that occurred off-campus on Court Street. Ohio University strongly condemns the alleged
behaviors, which are counter to the values of character, community and civility, upon which we
were founded.”
LUKASZEWSKI’S Assessment: Cold, callous, spotlight hogging, overly pious, victim doubting
LUKASZEWSKI’S Fix: “Over the course of the past few days, an Ohio University student has been cast into the national spotlight following an incident involving her allegations of non-
consensual sexual contact that occurred off-campus on Court Street. We are using all appropriate resources to provide support to the student who reported the alleged incident.”
McDAVIS’ Email: “Our internal investigation of this alleged incident is being conducted in accordance with university policy and procedures in a way that is supportive of the criminal
investigation being carried out by the Athens Police Department. When we conclude our
investigation, we will take appropriate action to hold those involved accountable, in keeping
with Ohio University’s policies and Code of Conduct. Additionally, we are using all appropriate
resources to provide support to the student who has reported the alleged incident.”
LUKASZEWSKI’S Assessment: What are they talking about? What do they know that the rest
of us should know? If it’s truly an independent investigation how can they say now that it will
support the police? Will they take action against the rapist, or the person claiming to have been
assaulted?
LUKASZEWSKI’S Fix: “We want to assure everyone connected to our university — students,
faculty, parents, employees and alumni that our students’ personal safety is our number one concern.
This event has triggered a full review of these safety policies and procedures by an independent
outside security expert who will publicly report an assessment of our safety readiness in the
next few days.”
McDAVIS’ Email: “The incident and the ensuing response have been difficult for our University community, and in our time of fast-paced communications, some of the discussion surrounding
this event has been divisive and unproductive. I ask for your thoughtful input and civility as
we seek to ensure the safety of our students as well as the integrity of the Ohio University
community. And I challenge all of us as members of the University community to embrace the
educational opportunity that this unfortunate incident has presented.”
LUKASZEWSKI’S Assessment: Difficult, divisive, unproductive, need thoughtful civility.
Obviously the President’s office is stressed about this. Why? Maybe the crime should be solved
before we plan the next university seminar on the rape threat?
LUKASZEWSKI’S Fix: “We are also conducting an expert assessment of compliance with
on-campus and off-campus personal-safety training procedures. All recommendations will be
promptly released to the University community in the next week or so. Our University community will strive to understand what happened and explore how such events
could be detected, prevented or deterred in the future, and how perpetrators could be caught more quickly.
In today’s era of instantly sensationalizing journalism, combined with instant referenda on
reputation and culpability, let’s stay focused first on assisting an injured member of our
University Family, and then on what is going to happen elsewhere in America... This will be a
sensational story until it fades away, except that the damage, the injury, the hurt and pain that
occurred requires our focus and actions to be here in Athens.”
McDAVIS Email: “Today, Ohio University can help to shape the national conversation on important societal issues. It is my hope that we will use this opportunity to foster open dialogue on issues of conduct, community, civility and the impacts of social media. More importantly, I hope that the unfortunate incident of last weekend strengthens our community by inspiring an
unprecedented level of care within our University family. That is who we are!”
LUKASZEWSKI’S Assessment: Since when is a rape, even just an alleged rape, “an
unfortunate incident?” For whom? I’d be very careful about shifting blame to any media,
especially social media. You took four days to make any kind of a substantive statement.
What were you and your Administration doing all that time? Then your long-awaited
statement proposes a national PR event, a conversation on other people’s behavior. This is how
perpetrators behave. The question is what took you so long to be so wrong?
LUKASZEWSKI’S Fix: “We encourage all citizens who saw or might have seen something of
these events to go to the police immediately. Or, at least call our victim hotline 555-444-3333
and report anonymously. Our hearts and our hands are with the victim. Our focus and energy are on preventing these acts from being repeated. We will promptly disclose what we learn as events unfold.”
Jim Lukaszewski is a specialist helping leaders manage the victim dimension of crises.
He is the author of the book,
Lukaszewski on Crisis Management: What Your CEO Needs
to Know about Reputation Risk and Crisis Management
.
Corporate Legal Times
named
Lukaszewski as one of “28 Experts to Call When All Hell Breaks Loose,” and
PR Week
named him as one of 22 “crunch-time counselors who should be on the speed dial in a
crisis.” His website can be found at www.e911.com
