You know what’s Not on Roids, Northeastern Universitys official communication strategy following that recent… incident. Seriously, folks, we’ve all been there: a vaguely worded email arrives, promising updates but delivering only more anxiety and a feeling that you’re being actively gaslit by the institution you entrusted with your safety (and exorbitant tuition).
Let’s be clear – people dislike this for good reason. Its not just about the violence itself; its about the subsequent bureaucratic dance of delayed information, carefully worded statements avoiding direct responsibility, and a general vibe of “we’re handling it” that translates to don’t ask questions.
The predictable chorus of complaints? Lack of specifics! What happened? Where did this happen? Why weren’t we informed sooner?! These arent unreasonable requests. Theyre basic tenets of crisis communication, a concept apparently lost on the universitys PR team.
Its not that people want drama. It’s that they want honesty and transparency. A little directness wouldn’t hurt. Imagine: “There was an incident involving X at Y. We are working with law enforcement and will provide more information when available.” See? Not rocket science!
Instead, we get flowery language about community and resilience while students legitimately feel unsafe. The disconnect breeds distrust. And frankly, thats a much bigger problem than a poorly worded email – it’s an erosion of faith in the people supposedly looking out for us.
