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Thursday, Jul 31, 2025
Outside the box.
University of Michigan Ends Controversial Surveillance Contracts Amid Outcry
The institution cancels contracts with undercover investigators following revelations of inappropriate actions against pro-Palestinian student groups.
The University of Michigan has terminated its contract with City Shield, a private security group, after a report highlighted undercover surveillance of pro-Palestinian campus activists.
This decision was made in response to widespread criticism after revelations detailing the nature of the surveillance emerged, including recorded incidents of confrontations between investigators and students.
In an email sent to students and faculty, University President Domenico Grasso stated, "We recently learned that an employee of one of our security contractors has acted in ways that go against our values and directives." He emphasized that henceforth, the university would cease all contracts with external vendors offering plainclothes security services on campus.
Reports indicated that City Shield had been contracted to the tune of approximately $800,000 from June 2023 to September 2024, as part of a broader security spending that exceeded $3 million aimed at managing campus protests related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The investigators' actions have drawn ire not only from the student body but also from alumni and faculty alike.
Documented interactions showed investigators tailing student demonstrators and exhibiting aggressive behavior.
In some cases, they were accused of verbally assaulting students and engaging in intimidating acts, such as driving a vehicle towards a student, prompting a hasty escape.
Video evidence shared publicly depicted instances where investigators, impersonating individuals with disabilities, displayed erratic behavior while accusing students of threatening them.
President Grasso described the behavior exhibited by the investigators as "disturbing, unacceptable, and unethical." He asserted that the intent of employing these investigators was to maintain campus safety and to provide a rapid response to potential emergencies, reiterating that no student or group should be singled out based on their beliefs or affiliations.
Despite the university's statement, student leaders, including PhD candidate Katarina Keating, expressed their discontent, pointing out that the surveillance appeared to target only pro-Palestinian activists.
Keating described the university's claims as "insulting" and called for further measures, including the removal of non-undercover security personnel and the lifting of campus bans imposed on multiple students involved in protests.
The investigations also played a part in legal actions taken by the Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, who utilized evidence collected by the undercover contractors to charge students with various alleged offenses, including violating bond conditions from prior arrests.
Although Nessel subsequently dropped the majority of charges, the implications of the surveillance and its associated consequences remained a topic of concern.
City Shield has yet to comment on the termination of their contract or the allegations regarding their conduct during the investigations.
This decision was made in response to widespread criticism after revelations detailing the nature of the surveillance emerged, including recorded incidents of confrontations between investigators and students.
In an email sent to students and faculty, University President Domenico Grasso stated, "We recently learned that an employee of one of our security contractors has acted in ways that go against our values and directives." He emphasized that henceforth, the university would cease all contracts with external vendors offering plainclothes security services on campus.
Reports indicated that City Shield had been contracted to the tune of approximately $800,000 from June 2023 to September 2024, as part of a broader security spending that exceeded $3 million aimed at managing campus protests related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The investigators' actions have drawn ire not only from the student body but also from alumni and faculty alike.
Documented interactions showed investigators tailing student demonstrators and exhibiting aggressive behavior.
In some cases, they were accused of verbally assaulting students and engaging in intimidating acts, such as driving a vehicle towards a student, prompting a hasty escape.
Video evidence shared publicly depicted instances where investigators, impersonating individuals with disabilities, displayed erratic behavior while accusing students of threatening them.
President Grasso described the behavior exhibited by the investigators as "disturbing, unacceptable, and unethical." He asserted that the intent of employing these investigators was to maintain campus safety and to provide a rapid response to potential emergencies, reiterating that no student or group should be singled out based on their beliefs or affiliations.
Despite the university's statement, student leaders, including PhD candidate Katarina Keating, expressed their discontent, pointing out that the surveillance appeared to target only pro-Palestinian activists.
Keating described the university's claims as "insulting" and called for further measures, including the removal of non-undercover security personnel and the lifting of campus bans imposed on multiple students involved in protests.
The investigations also played a part in legal actions taken by the Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, who utilized evidence collected by the undercover contractors to charge students with various alleged offenses, including violating bond conditions from prior arrests.
Although Nessel subsequently dropped the majority of charges, the implications of the surveillance and its associated consequences remained a topic of concern.
City Shield has yet to comment on the termination of their contract or the allegations regarding their conduct during the investigations.
