Rethinking Community and Organizational Renewal on College Campuses: Counter-Narratives of Healing and Post-Traumatic Growth at the University of Montana

A sexual violence crisis can be perceived in markedly different lights depending on stakeholders’ values and past experiences. The way in which a university’s leadership handles this post-crisis communication can shape how the organization and community move forward after this trauma-laden crisis. In the wake of the sexual assault crisis at the University of Montana, the rehiring of a former football coach is viewed through two counter-narratives: (1) amplifying the crisis since his tenure immediately preceded the public portion of the University of Montana’s sexual assault crisis versus (2) his rehiring as a way forward to a “return to dominance” in football. This case study offers an alternative to post-crisis communication that is victim-centered by recognizing the trauma associated with the crisis.