SALINA, Kan. (KAKE) - Today one of the reporters from the Marion County Record visited Kansas Wesleyan University’s campus to recall her experience of a police raid on her workplace. 

Phyllis Zorn, reporter for Marion County Record said, “This being my alma mater… I feel that this is the place that produced me. And there are things I want these students to know.”

Phyllis Zorn, class of 1996 at Kansas Wesleyan, spoke in front of a class of communications and journalism students and detailed her experience of the now infamous police raid on her workplace. 

“We were ordered to remain outside in a 100° heat for more than two hours,” said Zorn.

Kansas Wesleyan University Communications Professor, Paul Green invited her to speak after finding out her status as an alum and hearing about the controversy. 

“Frankly, I've never been prouder to be a Coyote," said Green. "I think she's an outstanding representation of the ideals that we put forward. And we want to stand up for the truth. We want to do the best job that we can and be the best that we possibly can be. And I think in the field of communications, Phyllis Zorn embodies that 100%.”

Zorn’s message to the group of students?

“Stand up for your rights because you have to. These things can happen to us, they can happen to any of you,” she said.

Her message resonated with many students, as she left a very positive impression.

Aubreigh Heck, a senior Communications student and newspaper editor and chief at KWU said,  “She's very open about everything that happened and being able to see the courage and that kind of won't back down attitude is very important to me, especially as a woman in journalism.”

Another student, Ash Bissell, sophomore, graphic arts and communications student at KWU said, “It was so cool to meet her and be able to experience it. She definitely has a lot of courage to do that and still continue to stand where she is and hold that ground of like hey, this happened and everybody needs to know that this is happening.”

Zorn also recalled fond memories of her time at Kansas Wesleyan, but all the while, her message was clear. 

“Always it is our job to bring out the truth, whether the person wants the truth brought out or not. And the more the person does not want the truth brought out, the more it needs to be,” said Zorn.