On Saturday, Jan. 24, Marywood President Lisa Lori urged students via email to know their rights and responsibilities in the event that law enforcement visits campus. The email was sent out in response to a second shooting by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis.
37-year-old Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. On Jan. 24, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was the second person to be shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis as well.
Along with these shootings, a 5-year-old boy was taken into custody by ICE along with his father in Minneapolis, according to CBS News.
Lori sent out the email in regards to these recent shootings and how Marywood students are reacting to the recent news.
“I know that many within our Marywood community are following these developments closely. I also know that many of you are angry, frightened, and shaken by these events. Those reactions are not only understandable; they are human. They reflect a deep concern for life, justice, and the kind of society we aspire to be. I also recognize that our community holds a wide range of political perspectives. Yet moments like this transcend politics. They reach into the moral core of who we are,” Lori said in the email.
“At Marywood University, we affirm the inherent dignity of every human life, a cornerstone of Catholic Social Teaching. We are called to seek justice, protect the vulnerable, and work tirelessly toward peace and reconciliation. These convictions demand that we grieve every loss of life and scrutinize carefully the circumstances under which force is used,” stated Lori via email.
Within the email, Lori urges students who need support during this time to contact the Marywood Counseling Center, and also states the rights students have if engaged with ICE or any other law enforcement agency on or off campus.
The email also included step-by-step guidelines to follow in the event that law enforcement comes to campus:
“If you receive an unexpected visit from law enforcement on campus (ICE, FBI, DHS, or others):
Do not engage alone.
Calmly state that Campus Safety must be present.
Contact Campus Safety immediately: Marywood Maintenance Building, First Floor 570-348-6242
Ask for identification.
Confirm the agent’s name and agency.
Refer all inquiries to Campus Safety.
Do not share personal information independently.
If you receive a written request or subpoena:
Contact Campus Safety immediately.
Forward the request to the Office of General Counsel: [email protected]
If presented with a warrant on or off campus:
Remain calm and do not assess its validity yourself.
Ask to speak with Campus Safety and/or legal counsel.
You have the right to remain silent and request an attorney.
If Your Constitutional Rights Are Not Respected
If you believe law enforcement is not following the law or is preventing you from exercising your constitutional rights, your safety, not confrontation, must come first.
Stay calm. Do not argue, resist, or escalate.
Clearly and respectfully assert your rights:
“I am choosing to remain silent.”
“I do not consent to any searches.”
“I would like to speak with an attorney.”
If safe, ask for names, badge numbers, and agencies.
Contact Campus Safety.
Once safe, document what occurred, including time, place, witnesses, and any materials provided.”
For more information, read The Wood Word’s article on what to do if ICE comes on campus.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
