Crisis and Emergency Communications

Crisis

Are you facing an issue that may result in negative media coverage or affect the university's reputation?

Misinformation spreads rapidly online, and speculation quickly fills an information void. If you anticipate a controversy or find inaccurate information about your work, we can help you plan a communication strategy to get ahead of the issue.

If you're asked for comment from the university about a sensitive or controversial issue, ask about the context of the story and gather the reporter's contact information. Responses on behalf of Willamette must come from Media Relations. We'll work with you to gather the facts, create a plan for handling media inquiries and deliver the university’s response.

Contact

Adam Torgerson, Media Relations
503-370-6274
atorgers@willamette.edu

Emergency

In case of a campus or regional emergency — such as those due to weather, natural disasters or fires — the Office of Marketing Communications manages communications between the campus community and the public.

In an emergency, it's important to stay calm, avoid speculation and share accurate information. Please refer reporters to Media Relations in these situations. You can say:

"To ensure we provide the most accurate information, please contact Media Relations at 503-370-6274."

If Willamette closes due to weather conditions, information is available from these sources:

The upper right corner of the Willamette homepage
The university switchboard: 503-370-6300
A message sent through the university’s Emergency Alert System
An all-campus email