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On November 17, 1998, three individuals were detained by local police in Lubbock, Texas for attempting a pigeon drop scare in a Wal Mart parking lot. The three suspects were the head coach, an assistant coach, and the husband of the head coach from the visiting Hampton University women's basketball team. The three were eventually proven innocent and released, but not before a crisis involving racial overtones had been initiated. The case study explores the crisis management responses of Texas Tech University and Lubbock, Texas and the implications for the study of crises involving race&deg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an exploration into crisis communication strategies and public relations response policies and activities within the petroleum industry. The high-profile nature of the oil industry within 21st century news media is cited and discussed as it poses a challenge to the public relations management of risks and industrial accidents. The case study of the refinery explosion of Phillips Petroleum in Pasadena, Texas in 2000 is presented wherein the company's flexible use of rhetoric and communication is analyzed regarding the multiple interested parties involved.