Latest news with #DOGE-like
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brown student won't face discipline for DOGE-like email to administrators
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A Brown University student whose case drew national attention will face no discipline from school officials for sending a DOGE-like email to thousands of administrators. Alex Shieh, a sophomore affiliated with the right-leaning Brown Spectator, announced in March he had sent a message to about 3,800 school administrators asking them to explain their jobs and to describe what tasks they'd performed in the past week. Shieh listed their names on a website called 'Bloat@Brown' that questioned what it described as the university's 'sprawling bureaucracy.' He tagged Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy — the initial co-leaders of the Trump administration's DOGE initiative targeting the federal bureaucracy — in a social media post about the site. Brown officials responded by suggesting that Shieh may have 'improperly' used school software to obtain information about the employees, and indicated he could face discipline over the email. They have also suggested his 'deliberate targeting of individual employees' may have contradicted school policies. That in turn led the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a national group which defends free speech, to criticize Brown over its commitment to free expression and approach to dealing with a student journalist. On Wednesday, Shieh received a letter from Kirsten Wolfe, an associate dean at Brown, saying school officials had found no violation of its IT protocols or Brown's intellectual property policies. A copy of the letter was shared with 12 News by FIRE. 'The Brown administration tried to silence me because they were upset I exposed their bloat and waste,' Shieh said in a statement. 'The charges against me were pure retaliation, and so flimsy not even their own reviewers could find me guilty. This ruling is a win for free speech at Brown, but this fight should never have been started.' Dominic Coletti, a program officer at FIRE, said the organization was 'grateful' for Brown's final decision in the Shieh matter, but 'the process by which it investigated Shieh was wholly unacceptable.' 'Today's decision affirms that student journalists can continue to boldly report on Brown's affairs and should confirm what FIRE has argued for months: student journalism is not grounds for disciplinary action,' Coletti said. Brian Clark, a spokesperson for Brown, disputed their characterization of the episode. 'Despite continued public reporting framing this as a free speech issue, it absolutely is not,' Clark said in an email. He noted the school's student conduct procedures are posted online, and insisted they are detailed and clear. 'Since the start of this matter, Brown has proceeded in complete accordance with free expression guarantees and appropriate procedural safeguards under University policies and applicable law,' Clark said. Ted Nesi (tnesi@ is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesi's Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter, Bluesky and Facebook. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Another Ivy League School Faces GOP Ire
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here's what's happening… - China open to talks with Trump admin on lowering tariffs, ministry says - Top Senate Armed Services Republican says Trump OMB's budget 'shreds to the bone' military capabilities - Former Trump official slams UN reform efforts as 'eight and a half years late' A brewing controversy over a "DOGE-like" email at one of America's top universities has gotten the attention of Capitol Hill. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, wrote to Brown University on Friday morning urging the school to reconsider any disciplinary action against Alex Shieh, a sophomore who sent an email mirroring the style of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that asked non-faculty university workers what they did "all day." "Reports indicate that Mr. Shieh engaged in a journalistic act of contacting university administrative employees to inquire about their roles and responsibilities. This action, it appears, stemmed from his perspective as a student paying a substantial tuition fee and experiencing concerns regarding university facilities, leading him to question the allocation of administrative resources," Nehls wrote…READ MORE 'FIERCE' MAHA FIGHTER: Trump's surgeon general pick touted as 'fierce' MAHA advocate before confirmation hearing 'CELEBRATING OUR VICTORIES': Trump declares May 8 as 'Victory Day' for World War II: 'Going to start celebrating our victories again!' GULF SHIFT: Trump's interior chief to unleash Gulf drilling with major rule change 'WHAT THEY DESERVE': Trump says he'll revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status 'FIGHTING THE FAKE NEWS': DHS pushes back against claims of immigration enforcement at elementary schools MILITARY MESS: Billions spent, warfighters wait: Inside the Pentagon's broken buying system and the plan to fix it '100 DAYS': Buttigieg 'got nothing done,' Duffy declares: 'Pete appears unburdened by no longer being a cabinet secretary' TRUMP V COURTS: Trump asks SCOTUS to strip protected status for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants GOP CLAPS BACK: 'Protect' the majority: Senate GOP's campaign arm takes opposite tact to DNC's Hogg 'OUT OF CONTROL': Trump dubs Dems 'out of control,' suggests GOP consider kicking them out of Congress for 'REAL crimes' CAMPAIGN BUZZ: AOC draws spotlight with Queens town hall as 2028 White House talk swirls 'GREEN NEW SCAM': Trump's tax overhaul hits GOP turbulence over Biden-era green incentives TAKE A NUMBER: REAL ID renews America's age-old dread of the DMV 'MANUFACTURING BOOM': 'Mississippi's moment': Gov Tate Reeves on economic growth from eliminating state income tax 'SLAP IN THE FACE': California lawmaker demands 'accountability' after illegal immigrant's planned early release stopped by feds IMMIGRATION BATTLE: Fla. AG to rebuff judge who ordered halt to state immigration enforcement: 'The court has overstepped' Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brown University in GOP crosshairs after student's DOGE-like email kicks off frenzy
FIRST ON FOX: A brewing controversy over a "DOGE-like" email at one of America's top universities has gotten the attention of Capitol Hill. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, wrote to Brown University on Friday morning urging the school to reconsider any disciplinary action against Alex Shieh, a sophomore who sent an email mirroring the style of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that asked non-faculty university workers what they did "all day." "Reports indicate that Mr. Shieh engaged in a journalistic act of contacting university administrative employees to inquire about their roles and responsibilities. This action, it appears, stemmed from his perspective as a student paying a substantial tuition fee and experiencing concerns regarding university facilities, leading him to question the allocation of administrative resources," Nehls wrote. "Penalizing a student for what appears to be an attempt to understand the university's administrative structure raises serious questions about the institution's commitment to open inquiry and the tolerance of dissenting viewpoints." Brown University Student Angers Non-faculty Employees By Asking 'What Do You Do All Day,' Faces Punishment He also demanded more information on how Brown uses its $7.2 billion endowment to lower tuition and better the lives of students. Read On The Fox News App It comes at a time when American Ivy Leagues have been thrust under the microscope by the Trump administration, both for their soaring tuition rates and controversies surrounding antisemitism on campus. Shieh had created a database of the 3,805 non-faculty employees who worked at Brown University and emailed them to ask, "What do you do all day?" He wrote on X that he had been given a disciplinary hearing after being "charged with misrepresentation and violating the IT policy." Tuition alone at Brown University for the 2025-2026 academic year is $71,700. Fees, food, and housing charges bring that up to about $93,000 per year, according to the school's website — and with indirect charges, annual costs are estimated at nearly $96,000. "I urge you to reconsider any disciplinary action taken against Mr. Shieh and to reaffirm Brown University's commitment to protecting the free expression of all its students," Nehls wrote. "Additionally, below you can see screenshots from Brown's website showing the performance of its $7.2 billion endowment, boasting a 10% annual return. Please explain how these funds are used to improve the student experience or bring down the cost of tuition." Nehls previously introduced a bill that would significantly hike excise taxes on most larger colleges' endowment funds from 1.4% to 21%, in line with the corporate tax rate. A Brown University official declined to comment on Nehls' letter directly when reached by Fox News Digital, but denied free speech was the larger issue. Trump Admin Halting More Than $500M In Federal Funding To Brown University Over Antisemitism Response "In spite of what has been reported publicly framing this as a free speech issue, it absolutely is not," Brian Clark, vice president for news and strategic campus communications, said in an email statement to Fox News Digital. "At the center of Brown's review are questions focused on whether improper use of non-public Brown data, non-public data systems and/or targeting of individual employees violated law or policy." "Brown has detailed procedures in place to investigate alleged conduct code violations, resolve them and implement discipline in instances when students are found responsible, and these will continue to guide our actions," Clark added. "Students have ample opportunity to provide information and participate directly in that process to ensure that all decisions are made with a complete understanding of the circumstances." Fox News Digital's Rachel del Guidice contributed to this article source: Brown University in GOP crosshairs after student's DOGE-like email kicks off frenzy
Fox News
02-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Brown University in GOP crosshairs after student's DOGE-like email kicks off frenzy
FIRST ON FOX: A brewing controversy over a "DOGE-like" email at one of America's top universities has gotten the attention of Capitol Hill. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, wrote to Brown University on Friday morning urging the school to reconsider any disciplinary action against Alex Shieh, a sophomore who sent an email mirroring the style of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that asked non-faculty university workers what they did "all day." "Reports indicate that Mr. Shieh engaged in a journalistic act of contacting university administrative employees to inquire about their roles and responsibilities. This action, it appears, stemmed from his perspective as a student paying a substantial tuition fee and experiencing concerns regarding university facilities, leading him to question the allocation of administrative resources," Nehls wrote. "Penalizing a student for what appears to be an attempt to understand the university's administrative structure raises serious questions about the institution's commitment to open inquiry and the tolerance of dissenting viewpoints." He also demanded more information on how Brown uses its $7.2 billion endowment to lower tuition and better the lives of students. It comes at a time when American Ivy Leagues have been thrust under the microscope by the Trump administration, both for their soaring tuition rates and controversies surrounding antisemitism on campus. Shieh had created a database of the 3,805 non-faculty employees who worked at Brown University and emailed them to ask, "What do you do all day?" He wrote on X that he had been given a disciplinary hearing after being "charged with misrepresentation and violating the IT policy." Tuition alone at Brown University for the 2025 to 2026 academic year is $71,700. Fees, food, and housing charges bring that up to about $93,000 per year, according to the school's website – and with indirect charges, annual costs are estimated at nearly $96,000. "I urge you to reconsider any disciplinary action taken against Mr. Shieh and to reaffirm Brown University's commitment to protecting the free expression of all its students," Nehls wrote. "Additionally, below you can see screenshots from Brown's website showing the performance of its $7.2 billion endowment, boasting a 10% annual return. Please explain how these funds are used to improve the student experience or bring down the cost of tuition." Nehls previously introduced a bill that would significantly hike excise taxes on most larger colleges' endowment funds from 1.4% to 21%, in line with the corporate tax rate. A Brown University official declined to comment on Nehls' letter directly when reached by Fox News Digital, but denied free speech was the larger issue. "In spite of what has been reported publicly framing this as a free speech issue, it absolutely is not," Brian Clark, vice president for news and strategic campus communications, said in an email statement to Fox News Digital. "At the center of Brown's review are questions focused on whether improper use of non-public Brown data, non-public data systems and/or targeting of individual employees violated law or policy." "Brown has detailed procedures in place to investigate alleged conduct code violations, resolve them and implement discipline in instances when students are found responsible, and these will continue to guide our actions," Clark added. "Students have ample opportunity to provide information and participate directly in that process to ensure that all decisions are made with a complete understanding of the circumstances."
Fox News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Americans grade President Trump's first 100 days of second term and more top headlines
1. Americans grade Trump's first 100 days 2. Trump gives 100 days speech in Michigan 3. White House lists dozens of 'hoaxes' pushed by media, critics 'HAPPY WE'RE HERE' – Blue state governor appears with Trump again — and this time she's not hiding. Continue reading … SETTING A PRECEDENT – Supreme Court to hear arguments on school choice case involving Catholic charter school. Continue reading … 'WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY?' – Ivy league student in hot water after sending employees a DOGE-like email. Continue reading … 'I'M SORRY' – Harvard president apologizes for on-campus bigotry after new reports released. Continue reading … MAKING A SPLASH – Christie Brinkley's 'National Lampoon' co-star saved her from going topless. Continue reading … -- CLOSING THE DOOR – Elon Musk is no longer working on DOGE efforts from the White House. Continue reading … VISITING THE VATICAN? – Sen. Graham says to 'keep an open mind' following Trump's joke about wanting to be pope. Continue reading … HIGHS AND LOWS – How has the stock market performed in Trump's second term? Continue reading … 'HARD NO' – Millionaire tax hike proposal has House Republicans divided. Continue reading … STRUCK A CHORD – Rock star canceled by the Left stuns the White House with free speech question. Continue reading … 'YOU DON'T MENTION THAT' – Trump's interview turns fiery when discussing the approach to tariffs, deportations. Continue reading … RAVING REVIEW – Trump voter tells reporter the president is 'killing it' in his first 100 days. Continue reading … 'CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT' – Kid Rock fires off at the mainstream media for failing to recognize Trump's outreach to foes. Continue reading … SECRETARY NOEM – President Trump's first 100 days 'Make America Safe Again.' Continue reading … STEVE ROBERTS – The agency that targets Republicans while shielding Democrats must be dismantled. Continue reading … -- DEEP SEA ODDITY – 'Odd-looking' fish washes up on beach, surprising locals and experts. Continue reading … PARADISE LOST – Popular cruises suspend island stop over escalating gang violence. Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on equestrian events, flag facts and famous food. Take the quiz here … MIRACLE CURE? – Alzheimer's brain treatment shows promising results in new study. Continue reading … RFK JR.'S MOVEMENT – 'About time we take health of nation seriously,' says doctor. See video … REP. JAMES COMER – Dems slammed over Trump impeachment articles: They don't 'have any ideas.' See video … TAYLOR RIGGS – Data indicates trade war is creating 'cracks' in Chinese economy. See video … What's it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading… Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Thursday.
