1. The Aftermath of Tragedy on
Campus
Dr. Gary J. Margolis
Steven J. Healy
Jeffrey J. Nolan, Esq.

2. Suspect on the Loose at Delaware State
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

3. AGENDA
• MGQ Case Example
• Challenges (Students, Faculty/Staff, Media)
• Legal Issues
• Collaboration
• Lessons Learned
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

4. Michelle Gardner-Quinn
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

5. Media Coverage
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

6. The Facts
• Report missing on Saturday, Oct 7,
2006 by parents at UVM for
parent’s weekend
• Last seen in the early morning
hours returning to campus
• In cell phone contact with friends
when her phone failed
• Made a call from a borrowed cell
phone
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

7. The Missing Person Case
• Recognized immediately as an
unusual case by police
investigators
• Campus/city fear and anxiety
• National media arrived Tuesday
(10/10/06)
• Staging and media management
concerns arise
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

8. Investigation & Response
• 70-plus local, state and federal investigators
• Search & Rescue Teams
• 24/7 Command Post at BPD
• Family liaison
• Media liaison
• University EOC
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

9. The Suspect: Brian Rooney
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

10. Why the National Attention?
• Vermont & the University of
Vermont
• Suspected foul play - abduction/
kidnapping
• Media indicated that had this been
a “routine” rape/murder
investigation without the
disappearance, then it would have
carried little national interest
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

11. Challenges: STUDENTS
• Those directly involved (guilt/trauma)
• Residential community
• Re-victimization
• Students wanting to help
• Prayer Vigils, Memorial Services, Contemplative
Spaces
• Counseling services
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

12. Challenges: FACULTY/STAFF
• Impact on student services personnel
• Counseling Staff / EAP Support
• Perception of safety
• Security demands
• IT & phone staff
• Faculty support
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

13. Challenges: MEDIA
• Logistics of managing local and
national news crews (competing
interests)
• Media biases
• Press conference schedule -
“Feed the Beast”
• Website and server challenges
(managing constant media calls)
• Family’s privacy vs. Media access
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

14. Interviews
• “Talk Shows” vs. “News”:
What to consider before
appearing on Greta, Nancy,
Geraldo or Bill
• Prevalence of misinformation
• Impact of national television
re: leads and tips
• Coordinating family
statements
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

15. Communications
• Are you communicating appropriately?
• Are you saying the “right” things?
• Victim-blaming
• Message box should include
- Compassion
- Sensitivity
- Caring
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

16. Legal Issues: Communications
• Potential Liability Issues (tragedies on campus/
connected with institutions)
- Anything you say can and will be used against you!
- Have counsel work with public relations on
statements
• FERPA Issues
- Rights of student victims
- Rights of roommates, other connected students
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

17. Collaboration
• Media (local and national)
• University Departments
• City Departments
• Local, State and Federal Law Enforcement
• Other IHEs
• NGOs
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

18. Lessons Learned
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

19. Lessons Learned: Staffing
• Counseling Center & Employee Assistance
• Staffing Support (student services, public
safety, food services, admin)
• Policies on school closure
• After Action Reviews
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

20. Lessons Learned: Crisis Communication Plan
• Website and servers
• Media list-serve (eliminated media interruptions)
• Voicemail access for community
• Media briefing schedule & location
• Public safety forums (city and campus)
• Who speaks to media and related legal issues
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

21. Lessons Learned: Media Management
• Relationship with media (local/national)
• Staging area
- Away from department
- Accessible
- As agreeable as is possible
• Mitigate conflicts with national talk show programs’
interview schedules
• Negotiate to prevent interference with investigation
• Support family in media relations
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew

22. Lessons Learned: Town/Gown Relations
• Relationships
- Town/Gown
- University internal
- State/Local/Federal
• Campus resources
- Dining Services
- Print Services
- Technology & IT Infrastructure
- PIO
© Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC & Dinse Knapp & McAndrew 22

23. Contact Information
Steven J. Healy
Dr. Gary Margolis Jeffrey J. Nolan, Esq.
Margolis, Healy and Associates Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C.
1-866-817-5817 1-802-864-5751
www.margolis-healy.com jnolan@dinse.com
www.CampusCrimePrevention.org www.dinse.com
www.CampusThreatAssessment.org