SHSU, Police Lives Matter and Free Speech
Stephen Parr
Sam Houston State University has a problem. They didn't create the problem, but the future success of the institution is at risk if it's not handled perfectly.
It started with a shooting in Houston. Police say Shannon Miles walked up behind Deputy Sheriff Darren Goforth and shot him in the head and body 15 times. Deputy Goforth died at the scene. Investigators haven't announced a motive for the shooting, but many law enforcement experts across the country are linking it to the rhetoric surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement.
Enter Monica Foy. Foy is a student at SHSU. She is a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and she had a Twitter account. After the shooting, Foy tweeted, "I can’t believe so many people care about a dead cop and NO ONE has thought to ask what he did to deserve it. He had creepy perv eyes…” Foy has since been arrested on an outstanding warrant for assault. Her comments have created a big problem for SHSU.
Sam Houston State University has one of the biggest law enforcement schools in the State of Texas. Many of their alumni are outraged at Foy's tweet and want the school to kick her out. SHSU took to Facebook to try to address the controversy.
"SHSU appreciates the enormous public response in support of law enforcement. The university is a leader in educating many people who work in criminal justice and those who protect the civil liberties this country was founded upon, including free speech, whether we agree with that speech or not.
"SHSU has a strong Student Code of Conduct. The student’s remarks will be evaluated to determine if the code was violated following standardized due process. The university has an ongoing commitment to taking actions that strengthen dialog and understanding between our students and the law enforcement community."
Notice the core principals SHSU is trying to balance here. 1) They support law enforcement. 2) They support free speech. 3) They value their alumni. 4) They value due process.
Again, this crisis was not created by SHSU. But, it has put the institution in a public relations bind. I believe they have taken the correct first steps. They've announced their support for law enforcement and the numerous graduates of their program who's lives are at risk every day. They've also staked out the high road by declaring their support for free speech, even speech that may be unpopular. The key now is to make sure that high road is a path to somewhere, and not a perch used to look down upon the masses. The school must follow their procedures to determine if Foy's hate speech on a fallen officer violated the school's code of conduct. Plus, SHSU must continue to communicate with the public where they are in that process and what the next course of action will be. They must continue to reiterate their core principals and demonstrate how those principals are leading the university to a just resolution.
Someday, you or your company may find yourself in a public relations crisis not of your making. You can not hide from the issue and say it's not your problem. You must address it head on. You must also communicate with the public and your key strategic partners the core principals you will follow to handle the situation.
I think SHSU is off on the right foot. It will be interesting to see how they follow through.
https://www.facebook.com/samhoustonstate/posts/10152980044396619?fref=nf