The University of Mary Washington’s Independent Student Newspaper Serving the community since 1922
The
Weekly
Ringer
VOLUME 99 | ISSUE 12
UMW students protest use of excessive force by federal agents across America
February 6, 2026
Students caught sledding in construction zone
JENNA ROBERTSON Staff Writer
Following last week’s snowstorm on Jan. 26, the University of Mary Washington Police Department found students sledding in an off-limits construction zone on campus, prompting warnings and administrative referrals but no criminal charges. According to UMW Chief of Police and Associate Vice President of Public Safety Michael Hall, officers encountered the students while assisting facilities staff nearby. The discovery was not the result of a report or complaint but occurred by chance. “It was wrong place, wrong time,” Hall said. “Officers were over there helping Facilities with some vehicles and heard students sledding and talking. That’s how we found out.” The construction zone, which is fenced off due to ongoing work, posed heightened safety risks because snow and ice can conceal hazards such as uneven ground, metal materials and excavation areas, according to Hall. Hall said the students were cooperative and respectful during the encounter. Rather than issuing trespassing summonses, officers chose to address the situation through conStudents participated in a vigil sponsored by YDSA in which attendees helped paint the rock with the names of people killed by federal versation and education. “The biggest thing was being very firm in the conversaagents and held a moment of silence. Violet Ayers / The Weekly Ringer tion,” Hall said. “We understand students want to have fun, MEAGHAN VAN DYKE ployed to enforce President Donald Trump’s immigration but when you go inside a fenced-in construction site, there News Editor policy, which has included military-style tactics. are so many unknowns.” According to YDSA Co-Chair and junior political sciFollowing the fatal shooting deaths of Renée Good The snow-covered construction zones hide dangers that and Alex Pretti, two American citizens killed by feder- ence major Keeley Butler, around 20 people attended the are not visible at the surface, including steel materials, rebar, al agents, UMW students organized and participated in vigil and helped paint the Spirit Rock with the names of heavy equipment or holes in the ground, Hall said. campus-wide demonstrations amid increased opposition people killed by federal agents since President Donald “You think everything is fine, and all of a sudden you hit to the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforce- Trump assumed office last January. something underneath the snow,” Hall said. “That’s when se“We were prepared to be there as long as needed to ment in communities across the country. rious injuries can happen.” The UMW Young Democratic Socialists Association make sure every name was on there and it was completWhile entering a construction site can constitute criminal (YDSA) held a candlelight vigil to honor those killed by ed, and there was a moment of silence,” said Butler. trespassing, Hall confirmed no criminal charges were filed. The vigil and rock painting lasted roughly two and federal agents during the Trump Administration’s immiInstead, students were issued administrative referrals to the gration crackdown that has brought chaos to cities such a half hours and included help from unexpected volun- university’s student conduct system. teers, said YDSA Co-Chair and junior international afas Minneapolis, Portland and Chicago. “It’s very easy to write a trespass summons, but that According to reporting by The Guardian, since Jan- fairs major Katie Dickinson. wasn’t our goal,” Hall said. “This was about protecting the “A lot of people who were there weren’t affiliated with uary 2025, immigration enforcement agents have been students and educating them.” involved with at least 39 deaths on American soil. In YDSA, so they came there either by seeing us painting According to Hall, the referrals allow the university to Minnesota, where Good and Pretti were killed, approxi- and passing by and asking if they could join [or] they saw document the incident and ensure students understand the mately 3,000 Department of Homeland Security person- it on our Instagram, YikYak, or somewhere else,” said risks involved. Any disciplinary outcomes are determined by nel—including Immigration and Customs Enforcement Dickinson. the Office of Student Conduct. and Customs and Border Patrol agents—have been de-
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