Defiant and undaunted, Brown sophomore Alex Shieh celebrated the fact that he won’t be sent down for breaking university rules. “I’m happy that I’m not being charged anymore, but I’m upset,” Shieh said. “I’m upset that I was charged in the first place.” Earlier this year, Shieh used AI to scrape contact details of all […]
Brown University
Posted inEducation, Local, Metro Desk
How Trump’s first 100 days reverberate at Brown University
April 30 marks the one-year anniversary since Brown University students packed up their pro-Palestinian encampment on the school’s Main Green. Students agreed to end the protest after school leaders said they would hold a vote on a proposal to divest from companies that support Israel, drawing both criticism and praise. April 30 also marks President […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 11, 2025
April vacation week is here for the General Assembly, so prepare for a more active phase of the session once lawmakers return to the roost. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right […]
Posted inEducation, Local, Politics
Federal government investigates Brown for civil rights violations
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has expanded its inquiry into Brown University for a Title VI Federal Rights Violation, according to a campus-wide email sent from Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy Russell Carey and the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Matthew Guterl. Previously, the HHS investigation, which began in […]
Posted inEducation, Local, Metro Desk
Hundreds at Brown University sign letter in support of free speech on campus
A group of 255 professors at Brown University have joined hundreds of alumni and other Brown community members in signing a letter addressed to university administrators underscoring their support for academic freedom on campus and safety for international students and faculty. The letter comes following the news that the federal government plans to withdraw $510 […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 4, 2025
Raise your hand if you remember when Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan saluted those who braved a parking lot on I-95 to make it to Quonset by exhorting, “Rhode Island, smallest state in the nation, we will rock you!” You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want […]
Posted inEducation, Local, Politics
Trump administration to cut $510 million in funding to Brown University
The Trump administration plans to cut off more than a half billion dollars in federal funding to Brown University, White House officials reportedly told The Brown Daily Herald and several national news outlets onThursday. The Associated Press, CNN and The New York Times are among the national news outlets reporting the administration plans to block […]
Posted inEducation, Local
Trouble brewing on College Hill
On College Hill in Providence Tuesday, a libertarian sophomore called out Brown University for shutting down a cheeky student journalism project inspired by DOGE taking aim at administrative bloat. Just down the hill, pro-Palestinian students vented their rage at Rhode Island School of Design for moving an installation of anti-Zionist art from a cafe at […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for March 28, 2025.
Spring, when the presence of a more promising Sox team, tends to put a, uh, spring in your step, right? You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF […]
Posted inEducation, Immigration, Local, Metro Desk
Deportations and detainments are having a chilling effect at Brown
On a recent sunny day in early spring, the Brown University main green space was filled with students sun-bathing. It’s hard to imagine now, but this time last year, the university was a major hub of pro-Palestinian activism. Now, with the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian territories collapsing and a Brown Medicine doctor deported, […]
