Email to Provost Ritter regarding recent events - January 25, 2026
The following email was sent by the EC to Provost Ritter on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Dear Provost Ritter,
Thanks for reaching out. We hope you and your family are safe in these terrible times.
We appreciate your request for input on university attempts to support our community. As you know, many staff and students are terrified by the violence and human rights abuses we are witnessing and the dangers they represent to our community, the university, and our democracy. This has been sharply underlined by federal agents’ murder of UMN alumnus Alexander Pretti. We note that other members of our community have been detained and otherwise severely impacted by the federal occupation. We urge you, President Cunningham and the Board of Regents to acknowledge these existential threats and to respond with the urgency and moral clarity this unprecedented situation requires.
We urge the President and Regents to take these steps immediately:
Thank you for your leadership in these very difficult times. We look forward to continued discussion on how we can support our community and strengthen our university.
Sincerely,
The Executive Committee of the AAUP-UMTC:
William P. Jones, President
Heather Holcombe, Vice President
Karen-Sue Taussig, Secretary
Laura Kane McElfresh, Treasurer
Sushma Reddy, Member-at-large
V.V. Ganeshananthan, Member-at-large
Dear Provost Ritter,
Thanks for reaching out. We hope you and your family are safe in these terrible times.
We appreciate your request for input on university attempts to support our community. As you know, many staff and students are terrified by the violence and human rights abuses we are witnessing and the dangers they represent to our community, the university, and our democracy. This has been sharply underlined by federal agents’ murder of UMN alumnus Alexander Pretti. We note that other members of our community have been detained and otherwise severely impacted by the federal occupation. We urge you, President Cunningham and the Board of Regents to acknowledge these existential threats and to respond with the urgency and moral clarity this unprecedented situation requires.
We urge the President and Regents to take these steps immediately:
- Seek support for the university from elected officials: President Cunningham must act on the Board of Regents’ mandate to make institutional statements “on matters that have an actual or potential impact on the mission and operations of the university.” The federal occupation of Minnesota has prevented students from attending class and employees from teaching classes, conducting research, caring for patients and other essential tasks. Those who have made it to campus travel under fear of violence or detention, and of witnessing violence and abuses of human rights. Our elected officials need to hear of those challenges and how they impact the mission and operations of the university. At minimum, the President and Regents must write to Minnesota’s Congressional delegation calling on them to do their part in protecting our institution and all members of our community. Neutrality is not an option.
- Increase flexibility and resources for remote teaching, research and other activities: University administration must provide more robust support for students and staff who are impacted by the occupation. Academic workers need authority to provide virtual options for classes, research and other activities, and the financial and staff support necessary for making those changes. Protecting our students and employees means protecting their rights to study and work in peace and security.
- Increase flexibility and resources for targeted students and employees: Unconditional leaves of absence should be granted immediately to any student or employee detained by immigration officers, and the university must devote all available resources toward their legal defense. University administration must join legal actions taken by the State of Minnesota and local governments to protect the rights of immigrants and of community members engaged in observing and protesting federal agents.
- Resist any unlawful requests for information sharing and disclose demands for information from federal authorities: University administration must commit to oppose any unlawful information sharing with federal authorities, and disclose any demands for information, when allowed by law, from the federal government. We are alarmed by recent reports that the university signed an agreement with the Department of Education that allows federal authorities to “visit the University, interview staff and students, and request such additional reports or data” related to the agreement. This and any other existing agreements must be made public and the university must commit to not entering others without community discussion and clear, public notice to affected students and staff.
- Enforce the 4th Amendment and bar immigration officers from campus buildings and facilities on university property: University administration must do everything in its power to make the university campus safe and welcoming to all members of our community. This requires rigorous enforcement of the 4th Amendment. The Department of Homeland Security cannot be allowed to recruit on campus or through university webinars or online venues, the ban on federal use of university owned gun range(s) should be continued, and the university should take all moves available to bar federal agents from the Graduate Hotel and other establishments on university property.
Thank you for your leadership in these very difficult times. We look forward to continued discussion on how we can support our community and strengthen our university.
Sincerely,
The Executive Committee of the AAUP-UMTC:
William P. Jones, President
Heather Holcombe, Vice President
Karen-Sue Taussig, Secretary
Laura Kane McElfresh, Treasurer
Sushma Reddy, Member-at-large
V.V. Ganeshananthan, Member-at-large