Priceline CEO Resigns

Priceline CEO Darren Huston has resigned after a relationship with an employee became known. A former CEO, Jeffery Boyd, will serve as interim CEO, and COO Gillian Teams will replace Huston as Booking.com's chief, which was also Huston's position. Booking.com is a unit of Priceline Group.  

Priceline denies any connection between company performance and Huston's departure. Huston has had some big wins as CEO: acquiring OpenTable, signing a booking agreement with TripAdvisor, and seeing company revenue increase almost 36% since taking over in January 2014.

The company also says that the employee wasn't under Huston's direct supervision, although, as CEO, all employees eventually report into him. In a statement, Priceline said Huston "had engaged in activities inconsistent with the board's expectations for executive conduct, which Mr. Huston acknowledged and for which he expressed regret." The former CEO received a salary of $22 million and won't receive any severance pay.

The lead investigator of the incident said, "I am satisfied with the board's thorough review of this issue. The performance of the business under Darren has been strong, and the company is very well-positioned to continue executing on its strategy for growth. Jeff is deeply familiar with the company's strategy and leadership team, which consists of highly accomplished entrepreneurs and seasoned professional executives with long tenure in the business.  We are confident the company is in strong hands while we conduct a search for a new CEO."

Discussion Starters: 

• Why would Priceline emphasize that the employee wasn't a direct report? Does it matter?
• Priceline has no statement on its website. Should the company post something? Why or why not, and if so, what should the statement say?

SCOTUS Overturns Political Expression Case

The Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment protects a public employee who was demoted after management thought he had certain political interests. The Paterson, N.J., detective, Jeffrey Heffernan, was demoted to patrol officer after picking up a sign for his bedridden mother. The sign supported a mayoral candidate that the police chief opposed.

Lower courts ruled that the employees' demotion was acceptable because the act of carrying the sign was a perceived, rather than an actual, expression of political support. According to a Society for HR Management (SHRM) article, "So because Heffernan had not actually supported the candidate, the courts ruled that his right to free speech had not been violated."

But the Supreme Court overturned that decision, expanding the First Amendment protection to include perceived political expression. In its opinion, the court wrote, "When an employer demotes an employee out of a desire to prevent the employee from engaging in political activity that the First Amendment protects, the employee is entitled to challenge that unlawful action under the First Amendment and 42 U.S.C. § 1983-even if, as here, the employer makes a factual mistake about the employee's behavior."

SHRM explains, "Moreover, the constitutional harm-discouraging employees from engaging in protected speech-is the same whether the employer's action is based upon a factual mistake or if the employer was correct in its assumption, the court ruled."

Image source.

Discussion Starters:

• This is a fairly complicated case. Explain it in your own words, including the implications for public employers.
• What if Heffernan worked for a private employer? Would he have had the same constitutional protection?

Maine Governor Stops Mid-Speech, Calls Students "Idiots"

The Governor of Maine walked out in the middle of a dedication speech at the University of Maine at Farmington. Paul R. LePage was thrown by seeing students holding protest signs. The Governor's speech begins at 5:27 on this video.

The Chronicle describes the interruption:

Mr. LePage reportedly saw the signs 15 seconds into his speech, and then began to pause and struggle with his text. After 30 seconds more, he said he was done, apologized, and left the stage.

"Thank you, you idiots out back there with the signs," the newspaper quoted Mr. LePage as saying as he left. One sign said: "LePage: Maine's Shame." The other was an environmental report card that gave Mr. LePage an F.

The Governor later apologized at a Town Hall meeting:

"First and foremost, I apologize to President Foster and especially to Theodora Kalikow for the sequence of events on Tuesday. I was humbled to be invited to speak at a ceremony to honor Theodora Kalikow and recognize the great legacy she has left the University of Maine at Farmington, as well as its faculty, staff and students.

"I am accustomed to daily attacks and ridicule from protestors, but most people are not. Neither Theo, nor the people who were gathered to honor her, deserved for this heartfelt occasion to be disrespected by smug and self-serving protestors. If they wish to protest me, that's fine: we all have the right to express our freedom of speech. But this event was not about me. I was sickened by the lack of respect displayed by two protestors holding up demeaning signs-including one with Theo's name on it-during an event that was supposed to celebrate and honor a remarkable woman who has contributed so many years to improving education in Maine.

"For more than five years, the media has flocked to events where I have been asked to speak, not to cover any good news about the events, but to disparage me over issues totally unrelated to the events. Since I am such a distraction to the media, I will no longer attend some of these public events. I sincerely hope the media will continue to attend these events and report on the good people of Maine and the many positive things they are doing for our state."

The Governor may have a short fuse. In another incident this week, he prevented the media and legislators from accessing a meeting about education. He said, "The press take seven seconds of what I say, and they make a s*** show out of it. I'm tired of it."

Maybe he just needs a vacation.

Discussion Starters:

• Assess the Governor's apology. How does this meet and fall short of business communication principles?
• How can presenters avoid being affected by protesters and other interruptions?

Target Defends Inclusive Bathrooms

Despite the controversy, Target is not backing down from its plan to allow transgender people to use the bathroom and fitting room they prefer. The company points to inclusivity as a core belief.

Backlash came most intensely from the American Family Association, which started a petition for people to boycott the retail chain and received more than 517,000 signatures. The petition suggests that Target instead install unisex bathrooms, but Target spokesperson Molly Snyder said that hundreds of stores already "have single-stall, family restrooms for those who may be more comfortable with that option." Snyder also said, "We certainly respect that there are a wide variety of perspectives and opinions. As a company that firmly stands behind what it means to offer our team an inclusive place to work - and our guests an inclusive place to shop - we continue to believe that this is the right thing for Target."

The group's concern seems to be about sexual predators; apparently, they don't understand the difference between a predator and someone who is transgender. This FAQ from GLAAD explains the term.

Discussion Starters:

• How would you explain the issue to someone who knows nothing about gender identity?
• Assess Target's statement. Is this the best approach to the controversy?

Mitsubishi Admits Deception

Just as Volkswagen is agreeing on ways to settle its emissions scandal, Japanese car manufacturer Mitsubishi has admitted to reporting false data for car emissions for the past 25 years. The company said about 625,000 of its mini-cars sold in Japan had been tested incorrectly; regulations changed in 1991 to include driving in urban areas, but Mitsubishi didn't adjust its data.

Mitsubishi Motors President Tetsuro Aikawa said, "We don't know the whole picture, and we are in the process of trying to determine that. I feel a great responsibility." Like Mary Barra, GM's CEO, Aikawa is a new president as the scandal is unfolding. Barra was GM's CEO for only a few months before the ignition issues came to light.

As of now, Mitsubishi's website "Press Room" doesn't include a statement about the news, but Aikawa has given a press conference in Japan. During the conference, Aikawa said, "We've discovered that improper tests were being used designed to show fuel consumption better than it actually was. It was also found that the fuel economy testing methods were not in line with Japanese regulations. We offer our profound apologies to customers and shareholders."

Cue deep bow...

Since the news broke, Mitsuibishi's stock has dropped about 50%. 

Discussion Starters:

• So far, what are the similarities and differences between this situation and Volkswagen?
• What should Mitsuibishi publish on its website at this point?
• Should we expect more car models to be affected, as we saw with Volkswagen?

Lyft's First TV Commercial

With a bit of assonance and a lot of humor, Lyft creates its first television ad. The tagline is, "Riding is the new driving," and it shows all the discomforts and inconveniences of driving: traffic, accidents, and getting a ticket. 

Lyft's creative director, Jesse McMillin told AdWeek,

"Obviously as we grow and continue to evolve as a brand, we want to make sure we're constantly pushing ourselves to have a vibe and aesthetic that feels professional and cool. But in doing that, we also want to make sure we stay true to the roots of the company. That's really what informs us more than what any of our competitors are doing."

In a second video, Lyft's executives describe the approach of the ad to convey the main point: ride-sharing is the better choice. 

Lyft has had fun with other YouTube videos. Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice picks up a few people and chats them up, but he says, "I'm not really into sports." Before he reveals his true identity, he stops the car to stretch, take a nap, and dance with a few people. Racecar driver Danica Patrick also makes an appearance as a Lyft driver-a fast one. 

Discussion Starters:

• What's your view of the commercial? Do you find it as entertaining as the Lyft executives intended? 
• What makes the commercial memorable?

Personality and Grammar

A PLOS One study tells us that people who are less agreeable, according to a Big Five Personality assessment, judge paragraphs with typos and grammatical errors more harshly. Researchers at The University of Michigan asked 80 participants to take the personality test and then respond to a paragraph that had two typos and two grammatical errors. 

According to the authors,

"Summarizing the results, three out of the Big Five personality traits interacted with only one type of error, either grammos (agreeability) or typos (openness, conscientiousness). One trait (extraversion) interacted with both types of errors, and one trait (neuroticism) interacted with neither. This pattern is consistent with our speculation that typos and grammos carry different evaluative weight and potentially different social meanings." 

The results aren't as interesting to me as how the study is getting spun. The article is appropriately titled: "If You're House Is Still Available, Send Me an Email: Personality Influences Reactions to Written Errors in Email Messages." However, a Mashable article reads, "People obsessed with grammar aren't as nice as everybody else, study suggests." 

This seems to be a bold conclusion: is identifying four mistakes in a short paragraph considered an obsession? In answering the questions about the writer, shown here, I'm not sure how the respondents could be called obsessive. 

Discussion Starters: 

• Do I sound defensive? I am, but do I have a point? 
• Do the study results surprise you? Read more detail about the influence of the five personality types in the PLOS One article. 

Did Airbnb Depress Hotel Rates?

For the first time, I've seen a claim that Airbnb has affected hotel rates in New York City. A New York Post article, "Airbnb's cheap rates hurt Big Apple hotels big time," says that it's 1.7% less expensive to stay in a hotel in NYC this year than it was last year. Hotel stake owner  Richard Born says, "If Airbnb were to go away, room rates would go up by 15 percent." 

Students may see this as a single-cause fallacy, and they may be right: new hotel development added 30,000 rooms to the city this year. But Mark VanStekelenburg, managing director of CBRE Hotels, points to Airbnb's $80-per-room average rate and says that Airbnb rooms "account for" between 12 and 20% of all hotel rooms. 

Born also says, "Anyone who says Airbnb is not affecting NYC hotels is an idiot or hired by Airbnb to say that." 

Image source.

Discussion Starters: 

• Do you believe that Airbnb is to blame for declining NYC hotel rates? Why or why not? 
• What are the implications either way? How, if at all, should Airbnb respond to these accusations? 

Layoffs at Intel

'Tis the week of layoffs. Intel is cutting 12,000 jobs, and Nordstrom is cutting about 400. In a press release, Intel explained the rationale:  

Intel Announces Restructuring Initiative to Accelerate Transformation

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 19, 2016 - Intel Corporation today announced a restructuring initiative to accelerate its evolution from a PC company to one that powers the cloud and billions of smart, connected computing devices. Intel will intensify its focus in high-growth areas where it is positioned for long-term leadership, customer value and growth, while making the company more efficient and profitable.

The data center and Internet of Things (IoT) businesses are Intel's primary growth engines, with memory and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) accelerating these opportunities - fueling a virtuous cycle of growth for the company. These growth businesses delivered $2.2 billion in revenue growth last year, and made up 40 percent of revenue and the majority of operating profit, which largely offset the decline in the PC market segment.

The restructuring initiative was outlined in an e-mail from Intel CEO Brian Krzanich to Intel employees.

"Our results over the last year demonstrate a strategy that is working and a solid foundation for growth," said Krzanich. "The opportunity now is to accelerate this momentum and build on our strengths.

"These actions drive long-term change to further establish Intel as the leader for the smart, connected world," he added. "I am confident that we'll emerge as a more productive company with broader reach and sharper execution."

While making the company more efficient, Intel plans to increase investments in the products and technologies that that will fuel revenue growth, and drive more profitable mobile and PC businesses. Through this comprehensive initiative, the company plans to increase investments in its data center, IoT, memory and connectivity businesses, as well as growing client segments such as 2-in-1s, gaming and home gateways.

These changes will result in the reduction of up to 12,000 positions globally -- approximately 11 percent of employees -- by mid-2017 through site consolidations worldwide, a combination of voluntary and involuntary departures, and a re-evaluation of programs. The majority of these actions will be communicated to affected employees over the next 60 days with some actions spanning in to 2017.

Intel expects the program to deliver $750 million in savings this year and annual run rate savings of $1.4 billion by mid-2017. The company will record a one-time charge of approximately $1.2 billion in the second quarter.

Webcast Intel also announced first-quarter 2016 earnings today. The company will discuss the restructuring initiative during the earnings webcast scheduled today at 2:00 pm PDT on its Investor Relations website at www.intc.com. A webcast replay and audio download will also be available on the site.

According to Krzanich, the layoffs will result in "the highest revenue per employee in Intel's history."

For a while in class, I used former Intel CEO Paul Otellini's email announcing layoffs of about 1,000 managers. That seems like child's play now.

Discussion Starters: 

• How would you summarize Krzanich's rationale for the layoffs?
• 12,000 is a big number. How well does Krzanich justify the decision? What should be done internally? 

Nordstrom: Latest Company Laying Off Employees

Although Nordstrom has been a "Wall Street darling," as a Seattle Times article says, the company has announced layoffs of up to 400 employees. Sales for Nordstrom and discount store Nordstrom Rack are falling. The news comes after 120 technology positions and 14 manager positions were cut earlier this year. 

In a press release, the company emphasized keeping up with changing market demand.

A Business Insider article explains the conundrum between facing an American consumer who doesn't want to pay full price and the company's desire to maintain its identify as a high-end retailer. According to one writer, heavy discounting "will ultimately drag everything down with it, including brand image, potentially quality and essentially the value of all things."

Image source.

Discussion Starters: 

• How should Nordstrom deliver the news internally? 
• Write an email that the company could send to its employees announcing the decision. Try to adapt the press release to an internal audience. 

Verizon CEO Responds to Criticism

A Verizon strike has put the CEO under pressure to explain worker pay and taxes. Employees in two unions have walked out after failed contract negotiations.

In a press release, union leaders from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) explained the reason for the strike, including this quotation from the president: 

"No one wants to go on strike, but Verizon-this immensely profitable company-is putting the squeeze on hard-working men and women who just want to come to work, do their jobs and be treated fairly."

Verizon's press release blames the unions for ending negotiations and refusing mediation. The company calls out union leaders for "ignoring today's digital realities" and focuses on the impact of the strike on customers: 

"Millions of Americans rely on Verizon for the ability to communicate, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We remain fully prepared to handle any work stoppage so that our products and services will be available where and when our customers need them."

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has gotten into the fight: 

Although CEO Lowell McAdam didn't address his own pay, he did respond to Bernie Sanders in a LinkedIn post. He focused on Verizon's contribution of taxes and employment. Like the press release, McAdam emphasized changing technologies and the need to keep pace. 

Discussion Starters: 

• Read arguments on both sides. Which are the strongest and weakest? With which do you most agree? 
• Assess McAdam's LinkedIn post. How well does he address Sanders' criticism? 

Suing Glassdoor for Bad Reviews

In addition to poor customer reviews online, companies are feeling the pinch of negative employee comments, and they're taking action. Glassdoor has been targeted as the largest site for employee reviews about company management, interview processes, benefits, and pay. The site has been issued subpoenas for the names of people who posted views thought to be anonymous.

A lawyer arguing the case against Glassdoor claims, "The right to anonymous speech also extends to the Internet and those constitutional principles [of free speech], but at the same time the Constitution does not protect defamation. It does not protect statements that are false or could give rise to other claims, for example, false light or tortious interference."

At issue is whether comments are true or "maliciously false." If true, comments may be protected, but if they are false, the author may not be protected. The National Labor Relations Board (NLBR) has a role, as I've written about before on BizComintheNews. An attorney James R. Redeker, at Duane Morris explains:

"If an employer tried to take action against an employee who it found published something in either social or public media anonymously-and/or published something that was false and misleading-the NLRB [National Labor Relations Board] general counsel and the board take the position that an employee is entitled to and protected in making statements with regard to the working conditions of their employer."

Glassdoor has refused hundreds of employers' requests for content to be removed and for identities to be revealed. The company argues, "Glassdoor is an anonymous community and we will vigorously fight on behalf of our users to protect their identities and right to free speech, provided they adhere to our community guidelines and terms of service."

Discussion Starters: 

• What is an employee's responsibility when posting to sites such as Glassdoor?
• Do you agree with Glassdoor's resistance to reveal identities and remove posts? Why or why not?
• The attorney quoted in one of the articles said that companies can respond to comments online, but "...that's very unsatisfying. And sometimes it exacerbates the problem." What's your view? That's certainly how companies manage customer comments. How might this differ?

Illinois College Bans Yik Yak

Illinois College President Barbara Farley made the tough call to block students from using the app Yik Yak. Posts are anonymous and can be seen by location. The app is notorious for attracting mean and sometimes racist comments, which has caused complaints by students and faculty. At Illinois College, the Student Senate, Black Student Union, and faculty members have been particularly vocal about Yik Yak problems. 

Students joke that the ban isn't really a ban at all because they can continue to access the app through their data plans. Although a handful of universities have banned the app, others refuse, partly for this reason. According to the vice president for student affairs at Duke University, "Since it can always be accessed via cell signal, no institution could truly eliminate it from their campus. For any institution to seek to silence it plays right into [Yik Yak's] hands...since what they seek is notoriety."

Several feminist and civil rights groups have urged the Department of Education to take action against Yik Yak. However, a Slate writer also argues that Yik Yak is helpful to students adjusting to college and struggling with mental illness. She says a university ban hurts some of the students they are trying to protect.

Discussion Starters:

• What's your opinion of Yik Yak: is it more helpful to students or harmful?
• How do you use the app?
• Should universities ban the app? What are the considerations and possible consequences?

Is Amy Schumer "Plus-Size"?

Comedian Amy Schumer isn't happy about being featured on Glamour magazine's plus-size issue. Schumer was listed on the cover, without her permission or knowledge, along with Melissa McCarthy, Adele, and Ashley Graham. One concern is whether women Schumer's size are considered plus-size: does this give young girls a misperception about their own bodies? 

Glamour's editor-in-chief Cindi Leive appeared on Nightline and responded to the criticism: 

"I'm certainly sorry that she didn't like being named on the cover, and I'm sorry that she wishes her piece hadn't been included," she said, "but I'm confident that the message of the issue, which is there are great clothes out there for all of us, is one that will resonate with our readers."

"I don't believe that Amy Schumer is plus-size. That's not a term that I love but it's very clear that she's not what people mean when they say plus-size. But that wasn't the intent at all. The cover line says "Women Who Inspire Us," and we felt the audience for this special edition would be inspired by her completely hilarious and constant, consistent message of body positivity."

Asked about the Twitter war with Schumer, Leive said, "No one can out tweet Amy."

Discussion Starters: 

• What's your reaction to Schumer's perspective? 
• Should Glamour have done anything differently in putting together this magazine issue? 
• How well did Leive handle the situation? 

Marriott + Starwood Announcements

After some flirting with Anbang Insurance, Starwood has accepted Marriott's revised acquisition bid. Several major communications were published this week: 

• Press release to announce the merger
• Shareholder update on a new Starwood landing page
• "4 Things to Know" article by Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson
• Email to Starwood associates from Arne Sorenson (shown here)
• Email to Starwood associates from Starwood CEO Tom Mangas
• Email to Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) members
• Email to Marriott Rewards members

The internal messages link to additional content: a video message on the Starwood intranet and a poll for employees to name the new, combined program for discounted hotel rates. For Starwood associates, "HOT Rates" current offers good deals on stays around the world; employees may be excited about more possibilities, yet worried that the benefit won't be as generous. 

Bill Marriott hasn't updated his blog as of this writing. I'm sure it's coming soon.  

Discussion Starters: 

• Identify the primary and secondary audiences for each communication. Next, analyze the primary audience using principles from Chapter 4 in the book. 
• Assess all of the communications here. What's written, and what's left unsaid? 
• What are the key messages you take from these communications? 

Brief Conversations Change Opinions

A retracted study is getting new life. Researcher Michael J. LaCour had published a widely cited political science study in Science, claiming that short conversations changed people's minds about gay marriage. However, two scientists, wanting to replicate his work, found problems and published in a paper, "Irregularities in LaCour." 

Although the issues stand, those who fought to get the study retracted have since been able to replicate some important findings, after all. The new study focuses on attitudes about transgender people: 

...well-trained canvassers walked around Miami neighborhoods, knocking on doors and having 10-minute conversations with voters about legal discrimination against transgender people. The activists showed the residents a brief video describing both sides of the debate, encouraged them to talk about their personal experiences of prejudice, and asked where they stood on the issue. The researchers surveyed the same residents three days later, three weeks later, six weeks later, and three months later to see how their convictions had changed.

About 10 percent of respondents expressed more-positive feelings toward transgender people after talking to canvassers. Those changes in attitude were substantial, and they held up through the follow-up surveys. Both transgender and nontransgender canvassers were able to change minds - a difference from Mr. LaCour and Mr. Green's retracted study, which claimed that voters had found gay canvassers more persuasive on gay rights.

Discussion Starters: 

• What does the situation tell us about research and publications?
• What are the implications of this study for other political issues and persuasive arguments? 
• These conversations included a 55-second video. To what extent do you think this video affected attitudes? 

WhatsApp Announces End-to-End Encryption

Facebook-owned WhatsApp has announced end-to-end encryption, promising users more privacy. The news follows the recent debate between Apple and the FBI, which wanted to access iPhones of those involved in the San Bernardino terrorist shooting. 

In a blog post, WhatsApp co-founders describe the new technology. The post continues after the excerpt here: "The idea is simple: when you send a message, the only person who can read it is the person or group chat that you send that message to. No one can see inside that message. Not cybercriminals. Not hackers. Not oppressive regimes. Not even us. End-to-end encryption helps make communication via WhatsApp private – sort of like a face-to-face conversation." The notice links to a description of the security features. 

PR Daily comments on the political implications of the technology and announcement:

As you can imagine, this will do nothing to foster good will in the already tenuous relationship between the United States government, which would seemingly prefer to be able to see everyone's data all the time, and tech companies in Silicon Valley, which are receiving increasing user demands for more privacy and security.

Discussion Starters: 

• Assess the founders' blog post: the organization, word choice, and so on. What makes this a persuasive message? Where does it fall short?
• Although the company ensures security, the system isn't foolproof. What are some ways that people other than the recipients might see a message?

Students Remember More with Handwritten Notes

A Wall Street Journal report discusses several studies that encourage handwritten instead of typed notes. In one study, students watched a PowerPoint presentation and took notes one of the two ways. After the lecture, students who had taken notes on their laptop had done slightly better in "recalling facts"; however, longer term, after the opportunity to review their notes, students who had handwritten their notes performed better. This group's notes were longer and included images, which could have contributed to their more robust responses. According to one researcher, the hand writers have an advantage to "grasp ideas" and "hold onto new concepts."

The actual writing process doesn't seem to be at play; instead, it's about the "focused attention that handwriting requires." Also, handwriting is slower, which makes the note-taking process more intentional.

Other research supports laptop bans in classrooms. One study found that "students with open laptops remembered less lecture content than those with closed laptops." Several faculty have made the decision for this reason and because of other distractions. An assistant professor at Columbia University cited more reasons in a Washington Post op-ed about his decision to ban laptops:

• Since most students can type very quickly, laptops encourage them to copy down nearly everything said in the classroom. But when students stare at the screen of their laptops, something is lost. The students shift from being intellectuals, listening to one another, to being customer-service representatives, taking down orders. Class is supposed to be a conversation, not an exercise in dictation. 
• Clay Shirky, a professor at New York Univeristy, recently asked his students to stop using laptops in class. Another recent study convinced him to do so. The title: "Laptop multitasking hinders classroom learning for both users and nearby peers." A research team in Canada found that laptops in the classroom distracted not only the students who used them, but also students who sat nearby. Meaning, not only do the laptop-using students end up staring at Facebook, but the students behind them do, as well.
  

Discussion Starters:

• How do you prefer to take notes? Does this research influence your process?
• What about this research rings true for you, and what aspects do you question?

Emory Chalk Writing About Trump: Free Speech or Intimidation?

Emory students and administrators are debating whether chalkings on campus about Donald Trump are appropriate. In a letter to the school community, President James Wagner discussed both sides of the argument:

Dear Emory Community,

Yesterday I received a visit from 40 to 50 student protesters upset by the unexpected chalkings on campus sidewalks and some buildings yesterday morning, in this case referencing Donald Trump. The students shared with me their concern that these messages were meant to intimidate rather than merely to advocate for a particular candidate, having appeared outside of the context of a Georgia election or campus campaign activity. During our conversation, they voiced their genuine concern and pain in the face of this perceived intimidation.

After meeting with our students, I cannot dismiss their expression of feelings and concern as motivated only by political preference or over-sensitivity. Instead, the students with whom I spoke heard a message, not about political process or candidate choice, but instead about values regarding diversity and respect that clash with Emory's own.

As an academic community, we must value and encourage the expression of ideas, vigorous debate, speech, dissent, and protest. At the same time, our commitment to respect, civility, and inclusion calls us to provide a safe environment that inspires and supports courageous inquiry. It is important that we recognize, listen to, and honor the concerns of these students, as well as faculty and staff who may feel similarly. . . .

The letter goes on to identify actions the university will take, including clarifying policies and providing more opportunities for dialogue. The president also chalked a message of his own, shown here.

In related news, a Chronicle story reports the results of a Gallup survey about students' view of free speech on campus:

Nearly half of college students believe in curtailing the news media's access to campus events in certain scenarios, such as when protesters want to be left alone (48 percent), when they believe a reporter will be biased (49 percent), and when they want to tell the story themselves on social media (44 percent), a new Gallup survey has found.

At the same time,

While more than 75 percent of students believe colleges should expose students to all types of speech and viewpoints, a majority of students believe campus climates prevent people from saying what they believe out of fears of offending others.

Image source.

Discussion Starters:

• Describe both sides of the issue in this situation. Image you're a student on either side of the argument: defend your position.
• How well did President Wagner's letter address the controversy?

Amtrak Response to Crash

Once again, a rail crash brings mostly service updates-no apologies on its website and in the press. An Amtrak train struck maintenance equipment in Chester, Philadelphia, killing two maintenance workers and injuring 34 passengers and an engineer. The derailment disabled the internal communication system, so passengers in some cars didn't receive information for a half-hour after the accident.

According to a Reuters report, Amtrak has little to say:

Amtrak spokesman Mike Tolbert said the railroad was operating its normal schedule of train service along the busy Northeast rail corridor on Monday. He referred all other questions to the NTSB, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As usual, the railroad's website is focused on service updates with nothing in the way of an apology. The "News Release" page shows two posts, one announcing the service disruption and another announcing the restoration plan. This was also the case in a Metro-North derailment in 2013 that killed 4 people.

Likewise, the Amtrak Facebook page gives only service updates.

To find an apology, we need to go to back to a 2015 crash. At the time, Amtrak's Facebook page did express some sentiment, although it repeats in subsequent posts, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of life." The second post conveys the message well:

As always, our first concern is taking care of our customers and employees. We have established a Family Assistance Center in Philadelphia to work closely with the family of passengers and crew on the train. Family members are encouraged to call the Amtrak Incident Hotline (800-523-9101) with questions about individuals on the train.   For our employees, the Amtrak Employee Assistance Program is staffed with trained counselors to support our employees and co-workers.

UPDATE: Finally, an apology on the Facebook page. Still nothing on the website.

Discussion Starters:

• What could explain the lack of apology? What, if anything, is different between this incident and 2015?
• How can Amtrak balance service updates and empathy? What should the organization post where?