Leaked letter reignites reputation management crisis
St. Louis University is facing a serious crisis, and to say that it’s not weathering the storm well would be an understatement. Early this fall SLU’s Faculty Senate and Student Government Association took a vote of “no confidence” against University President Lawrence Biondi, citing serious concerns about his leadership abilities.
The two sides appeared to be growing closer to a working relationship when an explosive letter urging trustees to not communicate with “general faculty, media, or other constituents” was leaked to SLU students. Here are more details, from a St. Louis Today article by Nancy Cambria:
A letter written by the head of the St. Louis University Board of Trustees asking fellow board members to remain mum on the advice of a public relations firm was apparently leaked to students Saturday, causing yet another uproar among faculty.
The newest imbroglio came just days after University leaders and the school’s Faculty Senate appeared to have called a truce. On Friday the parties released a joint statement vowing to increase communication amid a time of discord on campus. The statement said the groups intended to engage in “more frequent and effective communications throughout the University Community.”
Good crisis management means walking the walk, not just talking the talk, and University leadership appears to have been caught red-handed contradicting promises that it intends to open up more lines of communication with upset students and faculty.
The only way for SLU’s leaders to set this situation right is to suck it up and actually get honest. A good start would be to make the entire decision-making process, from start to finish, as transparent and open as possible. Invite concerned students and faculty to participate in the process, and make very clear the significant role they are playing.
The BCM Blogging Team
https://www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com/