DPS outlines on-campus ICE activity procedures, Halloween safety
The Department of Public Safety attended the Student Government Association’s Monday meeting and outlined steps to take in case of ICE presence on campus. Chief of Campus Safety Michael Bunker said ICE has not come to SU. Lola Jeanne Carpio | Contributing Photographer
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Members of Syracuse University’s Department of Public Safety outlined steps to follow in the event of Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence on campus at Monday’s Student Government Association meeting.
Associate Vice President and Chief of Campus Safety Michael Bunker and DPS Sergeant Liztazia Ramirez joined SGA to speak with the assembly about its department structure, initiatives and engagement with students.
During a question-and-answer session, Bunker said ICE has not come to SU but he’s received four reported sightings nearby. Only one was valid and was five blocks off campus, he said.
“This isn’t going to completely put all of your concerns aside, I will tell you right now that ICE is not going onto campuses,” Bunker said.
Bunker said if students see ICE officers attempt to enter campus, they should reach out to him and Deputy Chief John Sardino, who would then go meet with officers to determine the type of warrant they may have. He said they would decide how to proceed from there.
At this point, an attorney would be present to ensure the warrant is legitimate and read correctly, he said.
Bunker urged students to stay out of ICE’s way if officers make their way onto campus.
“I say that with the ultimate of care because I don’t want to see you get in trouble,” Bunker said. “If you start to interfere with the federal agents, this current administration has made it clear that they would take and put felony charges on for that interference.”
During the rest of the session, sophomore Robert D’Orso asked how DPS plans to handle Halloween and if there are any additional safety measures in place.
“We will probably double or triple what we would normally have on a Friday night for enforcement, and that is truly just to keep you all safe,” Bunker said.
While Bunker is new to campus, Ramirez has been at SU since 2018. She said in her experience, the department has ensured a significant presence on campus with more patrol cars, officers on the streets and extended surveillance of university neighborhoods.
Freshman Michaela Cordova also voiced concerns about SU’s active shooter protocols. She said as a newer student, she doesn’t know the guidelines and asked if there was a way to spread the information across campus.
Bunker discussed the Orange Safe app, explaining that DPS would send out an alert to the student body in the case of an active shooter on campus. Ramirez pointed to a video on DPS’s website titled “Run. Hide. Fight.” which further outlines what students should do in response to a violent intruder.
SGA also welcomed Ryan Ludwig and Amanda Sanguiliano from the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. The two relayed information about SU’s shared competencies. The program is focused on six learning goals, also known as competencies, and how students can develop them through on-campus events, courses and organizations.
Ludwig and Sanguiliano explained that if a registered student organization holds an event “tagged” under a specific competency, it will be eligible for additional funding. Sanguiliano said that grants can be as much as $500, possibly more, depending on the event.
“We really want (the RSOs) to showcase the ways that their events help students develop these skills, but then also get rewarded for fostering these knowledge sets and skills in their events,” Sanguiliano said.
Next week’s meeting will be a whole organization meeting and SGA will be joined by Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs Jamie Winders.
Other business:
- A supply funding request bill was introduced for an event between SGA’s Fall into Action initiative and SU’s sketching club. The club agreed to sketch students throughout the day in exchange for providing paper, Sharpies and other materials, according to the bill.
- Another funding request for SGA’s upcoming “Meet and Treat” will allow new assembly members to meet their constituents. The granted funds would provide cupcakes for the event. Both bills will be voted on during its next meeting.
