Rushing to respond: image reparation and dialectical tension in crisis communication in academia

Abstract

ABSTRACT The University of North Alabama (UNA) was accused of negligence in the handling of a student’s allegation of sexual assault by a professor. The initial university response prompted backlash from students, alumni, and the community. A more conciliatory response followed, and the UNA president spoke of the case during his annual address. These three responses, prompted by stakeholder critique, provided a unique opportunity to extend theory by analyzing how dialectical tensions and stakeholder responses affect organizational strategic decision-making in image reparation efforts.