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In a public statement<\/a> released via email Sunday night, interim University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso stated the University will be terminating external contracts for plainclothes security, or officers who do not wear uniforms, on campus. The statement follows after five U-M students who had previously participated in pro-Palestine protests reported<\/a> they had been surveilled by undercover investigators in an article published<\/a> by The Guardian Friday evening. The Guardian also obtained two videos<\/a> showing U-M alum Josiah Walker confronting a man, presumed to be an undercover investigator, who had recorded Walker from a car.\u00a0<\/p>\n In his statement, Grasso wrote the University began contracting external plainclothes security officers last summer.<\/p>\n \u201cIn July of 2024, as part of our security strategy, it was decided to augment our organic resources with outside firms to use plainclothes security personnel\u2014a common approach for large, high-traffic areas such as hospitals, sports venues, shopping malls, and college campuses,\u201d Grasso wrote. \u201cThese individuals were intended to help us keep watch over our campus and enable us to respond quickly to emergencies. However, we are clear: no individual or group should ever be targeted for their beliefs or affiliations.\u201d<\/p>\n Grasso also wrote that since the University has learned of an incident involving one of the employees, they will no longer<\/a> be utilizing plainclothes security.<\/p>\n