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Abstract
Can corporate crisis response strategies be applied to universities facing a crisis as a result of underage binge drinking? This study examined Coombs guidelines for the selection of appropriate crisis response strategies for the accident crisis type and applied the guidelines to three case studies involving crises where underage college students died from excessive alcohol use. The cases were studied to determine if Coombs guidelines would operate as effectively for a university as they do for other types of organizations. The following questions were posed: must the type of organization be considered when choosing crisis response strategies? And, if so, what unique factors differentiate institutions of higher education from other industries in formulating crisis response strategies?