Tom Flynn Letter regarding Outside law enforcement on campus By Sophia and Jess

 

Tom Flynn Letter regarding Outside law enforcement on campus

By Sophia Thomas and Jess Troxell 

 

As deportation and immigration issues rise within the country, the college's general counsel is detailing what to do if outside law enforcement comes to campus.

            Tom Flynn, the college’s vice president and general counsel, said that there has been an increased number of inquiries regarding what students’ and staff’s rights are regarding search and seizure from outside law enforcement in light of recent orders from President Trump.

The executive order called for enhanced enforcement of Immigration laws, where aliens convicted of crimes be deported and those in the country illegally will be deported. 

“When the executive order came out around immigration issues, we got some inquiries again about what that would mean for Stonehill and so we thought it would be a good idea to put out some clarification,” Flynn said.

According to Flynn, this is not the first time that an email like this has been sent out by the college.

 “We put out a memo in 2017 when there were questions about what would happen if someone came with a warrant looking to speak with someone,” Flynn said. “With the new executive order, we received inquiries again, and we thought it would be a good idea to provide clarification.”

While Flynn dismissed rumors of ICE targeting Stonehill College, he acknowledged the sense of unease.

“I certainly don’t think ICE is going to necessarily target Stonehill,” Flynn said. “But with everything happening and executive orders coming out, people naturally have questions and anxieties. Clarification is always helpful.”

The email aims to define public and private spaces on Stonehill’s campus. Public areas include spaces like the library, ticketed sports events, and public lectures, where community members are often welcome. However, Flynn emphasized that residence halls, classrooms, and the campus quad remain strictly private.

“The expectation is students should have the ability to go back to their dorm, relax, study, and do what they need to do without worrying about someone walking into their building,” Flynn stated. “The classroom is for learning, not for public access.”

The letter sent out by general counsel says that for an outside law enforcement to enter a private space on campus, they either need a warrant or institutional consent. But what conditions would institutional consent apply and who can give institutional consent?

 

Mr. Flynn emphasised that the college’s main goal is to protect students and keep them as safe as possible and so he stated that institutional consent is only likely to be given in situations where a warrant is involved. The only people on campus who are allowed to give institutional consent are the Cheif of Police and Tom Flynn.

As the campus community navigates ongoing national discussions around immigration policy, Flynn reassures the college’s commitment to maintaining a safe and clear environment for its students and staff.