A Message on the Threat to Student Journalism and Free Expression at Brown

Gray Bittker

Brown University has recently brought disciplinary charges against a student journalist for alleged misuse of the word “Brown” in violation of the university’s Name Use, Trademark, and Licensing Policy. While the specifics of the case involve Alex Shieh, publisher and reporter for The Brown Spectator, the implications extend far beyond any individual. They strike at the heart of what it means to have independent student journalism on a college campus.

While The Spectator as an institution does not endorse any of the opinions expressed by its writers, this latest charge against Mr. Shieh merits an editorial response as it is a dangerous escalation by the school in its fight against a student journalist. Mr. Shieh’s Bloat@Brown platform may have been controversial and criticized by many in the Brown community, but he has every right as a student to express his opinions regardless of what they may be. Free speech cannot be applied selectively, and when the school persecutes its students for asking questions it creates an environment of fear that is not conducive to academic freedom.

Previously, Mr. Shieh had been charged with misrepresentation for claiming to be a journalist with The Spectator, an organization that Brown’s administration deemed nonexistent despite active work on a spring edition and a registration with the State of Rhode Island. After The Spectator’s website went live this charge was dropped, though instead of admitting its error, the school simply replaced it with a new charge for using the word “Brown” without permission.

Many independent student publications, including The Harvard Crimson, The Dartmouth Review, and of course The Brown Daily Herald here at Brown, also use their schools’ names under what the law calls “descriptive fair use” — using a term in its ordinary, factual context to indicate that a paper is published by students at the university in question. The Herald, an independent student publication like The Spectator, has used the Brown name in this manner since 1891 without issue, yet the school is now attacking a member of The Spectator for the same fair use before the first edition of our relaunch has even been printed.

Furthermore, as of writing, only Mr. Shieh has been charged in connection with his position on The Spectator’s board of directors, despite the fact that others are also listed in official state filings. Brown’s administration is aware of this, as the relevant documents were submitted to the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards and included in the materials sent to Mr. Shieh as part of the disciplinary process. However, Kirsten Wolfe, Associate Dean and Associate Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards, has charged only Mr. Shieh for the alleged trademark infraction, suggesting potential retaliation against him for his Bloat@Brown website and posing serious questions about the fairness of Brown’s disciplinary review process.

The nature of this new charge is especially concerning given the implications it has for all student publications, not just The Spectator. By coming after a journalist for The Spectator, the school seems to be signaling to other independent publications that include the word “Brown” in their name, such as The Brown Daily Herald, that their journalistic activities are protected only so long as they stay in the administration’s good graces. Ms. Wolfe, the administrator who is handling Mr. Shieh’s case, did not respond to a request for comment on the new charge.

This case is about more than policy compliance or institutional branding. It is about the principles that support a vibrant academic community — the freedom to ask hard questions, publish unpopular opinions, and hold powerful institutions to account. If students fear administrative retaliation for their journalism, the result is a chilling effect that weakens the entire campus discourse.

As Brown moves forward in adjudicating this new charge, we urge the administration to consider the broader impact on student rights. Independent student journalism is a cornerstone of university life. It deserves not just tolerance but also protection.

All students — regardless of their political orientation or views on Mr. Shieh’s Bloat@Brown project — should consider the implications Brown’s actions have on their own free speech rights on campus. The Spectator remains committed to defending the right of all students to express their views without fear of retaliation. We hope that Brown’s administration will take this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to open dialogue and to fair and impartial treatment for all members of the Brown community.