Brown University Student Faces Disciplinary Action Over DOGE-Inspired Email Inquiry
Alex Shieh, a sophomore at Brown University, is facing disciplinary action after sending a DOGE-like email to non-faculty employees questioning their daily activities and the rising cost of tuition.
Alex Shieh, a Brown University sophomore, has stirred controversy and now faces disciplinary action after sending an email inspired by the DOGE meme to over 3,800 non-faculty employees. In his email, Shieh asked, “What do you do all day?” in an attempt to understand why tuition at the Ivy League institution has escalated to $90,000 annually. Shieh, identifying himself as a journalist for The Brown Spectator, aimed to investigate the university’s spending, particularly on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) roles, which he categorized alongside ‘redundant’ and ‘bulls–t’ jobs.
The response to Shieh’s inquiry was minimal, with only 20 out of the 3,805 recipients replying, and many of those responses were hostile. Shieh’s actions have led to charges of misrepresentation and violation of IT policies, claims he refutes, asserting that his affiliation with The Brown Spectator, a dormant libertarian journal, is legitimate. He also alleges that his Social Security number was leaked as part of the university’s retaliation against his critique of its administrative bloat.
Brown University’s administration, represented by Vice President Brian Clark, insists that the issue is not about free speech but about the potential misuse of non-public data and targeting of employees. Clark emphasized that the university’s procedures for handling such allegations are being followed meticulously, ensuring that all actions align with free expression guarantees and legal standards.
In response to the disciplinary action, Shieh has expanded his initiative to scrutinize other Ivy League schools, including The University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and Cornell University, for similar wasteful expenditures. He has also released an online tool to challenge DEI policies at these institutions. Elon Musk, commenting on the situation via X, described the university’s response as “Unreal,” highlighting the broader public interest in Shieh’s case.