Brown University charged a student with disciplinary violations for investigating high tuition costs, then leaked his Social Security number in what House Republicans now suspect was deliberate retaliation against free speech.
Key Takeaways
- The House Judiciary Committee has demanded Brown University provide records related to their disciplinary actions against student Alex Shieh who questioned high tuition costs.
- Shieh was charged with policy violations after sending emails to staff investigating administrative bloat, but was later cleared of wrongdoing on May 14.
- During Brown’s investigation, the university leaked Shieh’s Social Security number, raising serious privacy concerns.
- Republicans are investigating whether Brown’s actions constitute retaliation against Shieh’s free speech rights for exposing potentially wasteful spending.
- The case has gained national attention with Shieh testifying before Congress about anticompetitive practices in higher education.
Student Targeted for Investigating University Spending
A Brown University sophomore found himself at the center of a national controversy after using AI to analyze university employee roles and question high tuition costs. Alex Shieh sent emails to non-faculty employees asking about their daily activities, creating a database that categorized positions into DEI, redundant, and “bulls–t” jobs. The investigation was partially inspired by President Trump’s executive orders on DEI policies. Only 20 out of 3,805 employees responded to his inquiry, with many replies being openly hostile. Instead of addressing the substance of his questions, Brown University responded by filing disciplinary charges against him.
“Brown is charging me for misrepresentation — for saying I am affiliated with the Brown Spectator, which I am, because the Brown Spectator is an independent non-profit and not a registered student group,” said Alex Shieh, Brown University student.
Privacy Breach and Federal Investigation
The situation escalated beyond a campus disciplinary matter when Brown University leaked Shieh’s Social Security number during their investigation. This serious privacy violation has now become part of the House Judiciary Committee’s formal inquiry. The committee is demanding internal memos related to Shieh’s disciplinary hearings and the leak of his personal information. Shieh was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing on May 14, but the privacy breach and apparent attempt to silence his investigation into university spending has drawn scrutiny from federal lawmakers concerned about potential First Amendment violations.
“Brown is retaliating against me for exposing that the exorbitant tuition costs are going to a bloated bureaucracy, not educating students,” said Alex Shieh, Brown University student.
Congressional Concerns Over Academic Freedom
The House Judiciary Committee’s involvement signals growing federal interest in how universities handle free speech and academic inquiry, especially when it challenges administrative practices. In their formal request to Brown, the committee specifically questioned whether the university’s actions were designed to suppress speech and discourage others from investigating rising education costs. The case has gained such prominence that Shieh was invited to testify before Congress regarding anticompetitive practices in higher education, elevating his personal experience into evidence for potential systemic issues across elite universities.
“We are concerned that Brown’s decision to file disciplinary charges against Mr. Shieh and hold a misconduct hearing may serve to suppress free speech and discourage others from coming forward and asking questions related to Brown’s rising costs,” stated the House Judiciary Committee.
Expanding the Investigation
Despite the pressure from Brown University, Shieh has announced plans to expand his investigation to other Ivy League institutions. He has also released a tool designed to help others challenge DEI expenditures at their own schools. The House Judiciary Committee’s investigation into this case comes amid their broader examination of Ivy League schools for potential price-fixing and anticompetitive practices. Brown University claims to be cooperating with the committee’s requests while maintaining that their decisions on tuition and financial aid are made independently, a claim now under serious scrutiny.
“Brown University’s decision to file disciplinary charges against students like Alex Shieh, simply for looking into the school’s bloated bureaucracy and rising tuition costs, is a clear act of retaliation,” said Fitzgerald.
