Federal agents are free to enter any public areas on campus, including most of the first floor of the Discovery Building. They must have a valid search warrant to enter a non-public area. Do not give your consent to allow an agent to enter a non-public area. Any areas of the Discovery Building that are accessed by a Wiscard are not public areas.

Stay calm. Take enough time for yourself to think through and formulate your answers.

If the agent approaches a WID student worker, the student should immediately get their supervisor and/or Sheila O’Brien (608-316-4338) at WID.

Ask the agent for their name and to see their government issued badge.  Most likely the agent will show you their badge without you asking.  If not, it is your right to ask for this.

Verify the agent’s identity and agency with badge.

Ask the agent why they are on campus if they have not shared that information already.

Ask the agent to have a seat in a public area of the first floor of the Discovery Building while you call the appropriate contact (UW’s Office of Legal Affairs). To be clear: do not give your consent to allow an agent to enter a non-public area even if they have a valid search warrant. Politely tell the agent to wait while you call the proper contact.

Immediately call the Office of Legal Affairs at (608) 263-7400 and ask to speak with one of the attorneys. The OLA office number is answered 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Please also contact Sheila O’Brien at 608-316-4338, sgobrien@wisc.edu. If an agent is inquiring about someone who works for the Morgridge Institute for Research, the contact is Director of Human Resources Jill Walder, 608-316-4493.