What happens when a routine day on campus turns into a viral public records crisis? In this episode of Higher Ed Conversations, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom sits down with Katherine Hansen, Executive Director of College Relations and Marketing at Renton Technical College, to unpack a situation that many higher ed professionals aren’t prepared for but should be. Hansen shares a firsthand account of dealing with a “First Amendment auditor” who visited campus, recorded interactions, and published highly edited videos that sparked a wave of harassment, public records requests, and reputational challenges. From the initial encounter to multiple follow-up visits, Katherine walks us through how her team responded, what they learned, and the critical policy and procedural changes they implemented to better protect their staff and institution moving forward.

Do you have questions? Contact Katherine Hansen at: khansen@rtc.edu

What You’ll Learn:

What “First Amendment auditors” are and why they target colleges
How a single interaction can escalate into a full-blown reputational crisis
The legal realities of recording in public spaces
The hidden risks of internal communication tools like Teams
Smart policy updates that can protect your institution and your people

Thanks for listening!

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Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.