When a situation arises that requires strategic or crisis communications, the MarCom team is here to help guide you through the next steps. This is not something you have to face alone.
If the media contacts you for a quote on a news story about the College or University unrelated to an event, research, or expert viewpoint, politely decline to comment and direct them to the university spokesperson at stratcom@illinois.edu or call 217-333-5010.
Robin Kaler, Associate Chancellor, Strategic Communications and Marketing, is the only person authorized to speak on behalf of the University of Illinois in these instances. University employees should not speak on behalf of the university without the guidance of StratCom.
Official statements distributed over StratCom channels are carefully crafted and vetted. Units may share these official statements on their channels and accounts, but questions that units receive in response to the content should be directed back to StratCom.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is committed to protecting the academic freedom and personal safety of our staff and scholars. Nationally, unfair attacks on scholars have increased, often in social media, on message boards, and through other online forums. These so-called "trolling attacks" can be professionally disruptive and personally difficult, so we have compiled information and resources to assist scholars who are the target of one of these campaigns.
These resources are available at go.illinois.edu/trollingattackresources. Printed copies of this resource guide can be obtained by emailing provost@illinois.edu.
Additionally, academic freedom and safety on campus and in the classroom is also at issue. Campuses are experiencing some of the increasing social unrest associated with racial and ethnic demographic shifts in the U.S., growing income gaps among these groups, and racial tensions related to immigration. As a result, an uptick in racial bias incidents on college and university campuses and a greater prevalence of racialized antipathy and hate crimes have been experienced and reported nationally.
If you witness such an attack or situation, immediate physical danger (call 9-1-1) is not a concern, contact: