Are you Ready Being an Effective Student Leader During a Crisis

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Are you Ready?Being an Effective Student Leader
During a Crisis

• Student Leadership Diversity Conference
• February 2, 2008
• University of South Carolina
• Presented By
• Anna Edwards Rachel Marsh

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What is a crisis?

• an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs
  in which a decisive change is impending
  especially  one with the distinct possibility of
  a highly undesirable outcome (http//www.m-w.com/)
  
• Most common on college campuses include
• Fire
• Violence
• Mental Illness/Suicide
• Serious Injury or Illness
• Death
• Discrimination
• Sexual Harassment
• Hazing
• Alcohol/Drug

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What do you do?

• Before a Crisis
• During a Crisis
• After a Crisis

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Before a Crisis

• Collect Member Information
• Create an Emergency Contact List
• Create a Plan
• Educate Members of Plan
• Practice Plan

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Before a Crisis Collect Member Information

• Emergency Information Cards
• Have on file with the President of the
  organization for each member of your
  organization.
• Things to include on the card
• Members full name, social security number, and
  birth date
• Members local address and telephone number
• Name, address, telephone numbers, and email
  addresses of parents or guardians. Be sure to get
  this information for both parents. Include
  residence, work, and cell phone numbers.
• Name, address, and telephone numbers of another
  person to notify in the event the parents cannot
  be reached (ex. Neighbor of parents, relatives)
• Medical information (allergies, medical
  conditions, etc.)
• Name and telephone number of the family physician
  

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Before a Crisis Emergency Contact List

• Create a phone number list of people who need to
  be notified in the event of an emergency and make
  sure all officers have this information.
• Some people to include on the list
• Organization Officers
• Campus Advisor
• Organization Advisor
• If you have a national affiliation, the national
  office
• Campus Resources- Campus police, campus media,
  counseling center, health center, etc.

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Before a Crisis Create A Plan

• Create a Chain of Command
• Identify the roles of each officer during a
  crisis situation. Typically the president would
  be in command of an emergency situation. Should
  the president not be available, know the chain of
  command of the rest of the officers.
• Appoint an officer to be in charge of gathering
  the group together for open communication. (If
  possible decide where this would be)
• Anticipate Any All Crisis Situations
• Identify potential situations your organization
  may face
• Plan ahead and lay out who would do what in X
  situation.
• Develop a single plan that could cover all crises

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Before a Crisis Educate Practice

• Educate Your Members
• Once you have created a plan, make sure you
  educate the members of your organization on the
  procedures should a crisis occur so everyone
  understands each persons role and
  responsibility.
• Review the plan with your members at least once a
  semester.
• Practice Your Plan

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During a Crisis

• Plan Into Action
• Communication
• Dealing with Media

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During A Crisis Plan Into Action

• Put your plan into action as soon as you are
  notified of a situation!
• Utilize university/campus resources for assistance

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During A Crisis Communication

• With whom do you need to communicate?
• University official(s)
• Resident Advisor
• Members/Constituents
• Faculty/Staff advisors
• Advisory Board
• National Headquarters (if applicable)
• Create an organizational phone tree

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During a Crisis Dealing with Media

• Have only the designated spokesperson for your
  organization speak with the media
• Consult with campus officials and organization
  advisors to help you prepare for any media
  contact and to prepare a statement that can be
  read to the press.
• Prior to the development of a statement have a
  standby statement (rather than saying no
  comment) such as We can confirm that (brief
  description of incident) occurred on (day) at
  (time) at (location). The organization is
  cooperating with authorities and all interested
  parties. Further information will be released
  when we have completed our investigation of all
  pertinent matters.
• Dont say anything else, if asked a question
  respond When we have completed our
  investigation, we will release more information

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During a Crisis Dealing with Media

• Utilize your campus media relations office
• When being interviewed
• Tell the truth
• Give only the facts
• IF you dont know the answer to a question say so
• Dont speculate or repeat hearsay
• Avoid exaggerations and inflammatory remarks
• Stress what positive action you are taking to
  resolve the situation
• IF you are asked a question you feel is unfair,
  simply rephrase the question they way you would
  prefer it asked then answer your question.
• Consider your appearance
• Dress neatly
• Have members dress neatly even if they are casual
• Try to set up a press briefing away from where
  the incident occurred
• Caution members not to grandstand in the
  background during TV interviews

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During a Crisis Dealing with Media

• Do not release any names until an investigation
  is complete and the timing is appropriate
  (typically the spokesperson for your campus will
  handle this)
• Dont discuss the personal life of your members
  with reporters
• Dont let television cameras or photographers
  into the space where your members may be gathered
  

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After A Crisis

• Follow Up Thank You Notes
• Evaluate Update Plan
• Healing Moving On

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After A Crisis Follow Up

• Counseling support
• List of those who assisted with crisis (thank you
  notes)
• Statement of thanks issued by the
  organization/university and available on the
  website
• Follow up with family as needed

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After a Crisis Evaluate Update Plan

• Examine plan/procedures
• Re-evaluate what occurred
• Make changes to plan

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After A Crisis Healing Moving On

• Campus resources
• Religious workers
• Provide support for each other

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Words of Advice

• Be prepared for anything, and expect
• nothing.  When you take on a leadership role you
• take on the heavy mind that endless possibilities
• creates.  But find comfort in knowing that you
  have
• taken the position because you believe yourself
• capable of facing any one of the possibilities
  that
• exist. Jay Laura

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And When All Else Fails

• When in danger or in doubt, run in circles
  scream and shout.
• -Jerry Brewer